Open AccessResponse of Lowbush Blueberry to Several Organic Fertilizers
Author(s) -
John M. Smagula,
Ilse Fastook
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.41.4.994c
Subject(s) - fertilizer , diammonium phosphate , horticulture , chemistry , nitrogen , botany , agronomy , biology , organic chemistry
Four organic fertilizers were evaluated in a commercial lowbush blueberry field with a history of N and P deficiency. In nonorganic production, diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the standard fertilizer for correcting N and P deficiency. Nitrogen a rate of 67 kg·ha -1 [Renaissance (8-2-6), ProHolly (4-6-4), Pro Grow (5-3-4), Nutri-Wave (4-1-2), or DAP (18-46-0)] was applied preemergent to 1.8-m × 15-m treatment plots. Leaf N and P were deficient ( 1.6%). Only DAP raised leaf P concentrations (0.144%), compared to controls (0.122%). Leaf K was not deficient, but was raised by Pro-Holly. Soil pH was slightly lowered by Renaissance (4.2) and raised by Pro-Holly (4.4), compared to the control (4.3). Soil P concentrations were raised by DAP and soil S by Pro-Holly. Soil K was raised by all fertilizers except DAP, compared to the control. Pro-Holly and DAP were equally effective in increasing stem height, branching, branch length, flower bud formation, and yield, compared to the control and the other organic fertilizers. Pro-Holly could effectively substitute for DAP in organic wild blueberry production.