A review of optimal systems for organic production of blueberry and blackberry for fresh and processed markets in the northwestern United States

Strik, Bernadine C.

doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2015.11.044

Cited by 24 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…It is possible that the cultivars differed in their adaptability to the various fertility regimes caused by the amendmentmulch treatments and fertilizers used in our study. Larco et al (2013aLarco et al ( , 2013b and Strik (2016) observed differences in plant growth and yield between 'Duke' and 'Liberty' when fertilized with fish emulsion or feather meal in a certified organic production system. Incorporation of a preplant amendment, particularly douglas fir sawdust in our region, is common (Julian et al, 2011a(Julian et al, , 2011b and has been shown to improve growth and production over the long-term compared with no preplant amendment in conventionally managed blueberry fields (Nemeth et al, 2017).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Larco et al (2013a) found lower soil pH under weed mat mulch than under a yard-debris compost + sawdust mulch in organic blueberry. However, use of a yard-debris compost only as part of a mulching program had benefits for mitigating the decline in soil pH that occurs with fertilization over time, while maintaining soil pH within the desired range for blueberry (Larco et al, 2013a;Strik, 2016). Table 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By 2014, the organic blueberry area in Oregon and Washington accounted for about 20% of total blueberry area planted. Growth in organic production continues as consumer demand for organic products remains strong, and this region offers substantial advantages for organic production (DeVetter et al, 2015;Strik, 2016;Strik et al, 2016;Strik and Yarborough, 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The development of yield and fruit quality of the range of cultivars grown has not been compared in research studies, likely because of the relatively long time from planting to maturity (about 8 years). Differences in the performance of cultivars have been found in organic production of 'Duke' and 'Liberty' blueberry (Larco et al, 2013a(Larco et al, , 2013bStrik, 2016;Strik et al, 2016) and various blackberry cultivars (Fernandez-Salvador et al, 2015).…”

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Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Differed in Yield and Fruit Quality in Two Organic Production Systems from Planting to Maturity

Strik

Vance

Finn

2017

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Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivars were evaluated from planting (Oct. 2006) through 2014 in a certified organic research site in Aurora, OR. The treatments included cultivar (Duke, Bluecrop, Reka, Bluejay, Bluegold, Draper, Legacy, Liberty, Ozarkblue, and Aurora), amendment-mulch [“compost + sawdust” (included preplant amendment and a surface mulch of either an agricultural on-farm crop waste compost or yard-debris compost and sawdust), and “weed mat” (no preplant amendments but with a sawdust mulch topped with weed mat)]. Adding on-farm compost as a preplant amendment and as part of the mulching program increased soil pH from 4.9 to 6.9, organic matter content (OM), and calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) levels compared with the weed mat treatment. The reduced plant growth and yield in some cultivars grown in the compost + sawdust treatment was likely due to the higher soil pH. ‘Bluegold’ and ‘Draper’ were among the cultivars with consistently high flower bud set (40% to 57%), whereas others had consistently low values (e.g., 22% to 45% in ‘Bluecrop’). The number of flowers per bud was affected only by cultivar. There was no effect of year or amendment-mulch treatment on percent fruit set which averaged 93% during the study; however, ‘Ozarkblue’ had a significantly lower fruit set (88%) than only ‘Aurora’ (96%). Berry weight was affected by year (plant age), cultivar, and amendment-mulch treatment. ‘Ozarkblue’ produced the largest berries. Type of amendment-mulch had little effect on berry weight, except in ‘Ozarkblue’, ‘Aurora’, and ‘Reka’ where plants grown with weed mat produced larger fruit than those grown with compost + sawdust. On average, ‘Bluejay’, ‘Draper’, and ‘Liberty’ fruit had the highest percent soluble solids (TSS) and ‘Ozarkblue’ the lowest. Fruit harvested from plants grown with weed mat were firmer than when compost + sawdust was used. ‘Draper’ fruit were much firmer than those of the other cultivars in all years of the study. The number of flower buds per plant multiplied by the number of flowers/bud and berry weight (cultivar specific) and average fruit set was a good predictor of yield in young plants. Yield per plant increased from the second through seventh growing seasons as plants matured in all cultivars except for ‘Duke’ which had the greatest yield in 2014. Cumulative yield was highest in ‘Legacy’ and lowest in ‘Bluejay’ and in ‘Draper’, which had relatively low yield when plants were young. Most cultivars had greater yield when grown with weed mat, whereas ‘Bluegold’ and ‘Liberty’ were unaffected by amendment-mulch treatment. Because weeds were managed in all plots, the cultivar response to amendment-mulch was likely a reflection of sensitivity to preplant amendment with on-farm compost and the resulting higher soil pH. It is possible that the cultivars differed in their adaptability to the various fertility regimes caused by the amendment-mulch treatments and fertilizers used in our study.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Differed in Yield and Fruit Quality in Two Organic Production Systems from Planting to Maturity

Strik

Vance

Finn

2017

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“…The northwestern United States is the largest growing region for blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in the country and, in 2018, accounted for 48% of the total production (North American Blueberry Council, unpublished data). This region also accounts for more than 60% of the total U.S. organic production of blueberries, which continues to increase due to strong markets and an ideal climate for high yield and quality (DeVetter et al, 2015;Fernandez-Salvador et al, 2017;Strik, 2014Strik, , 2016. However, 15 years ago, organic production only accounted for 2% of the total blueberry area in the region (Strik, 2016).…”

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Organic Production Systems in Northern Highbush Blueberry: II. Impact of Planting Method, Cultivar, Fertilizer, and Mulch on Leaf and Soil Nutrient Concentrations and Relationships with Yield from Planting through Maturity

Strik¹,

Vance²,

Bryla³

et al. 2019

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The impact of various production systems on leaf nutrient concentration and soil organic matter, pH, and nutrient status was evaluated from the first growing season (2007) through maturity (2016) in a certified organic planting of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Treatments included planting method (on raised beds or flat ground), fertilizer source (granular feather meal or fish solubles) and rate (“low” and “high” rates of 29 and 57 kg·ha−1 N, respectively, during establishment, increased incrementally as the planting matured to 73 and 140 kg·ha−1 N, respectively), mulch [sawdust, yard-debris compost topped with sawdust (compost + sawdust), or black, woven polyethylene groundcover (weed mat)], and cultivar (Duke or Liberty). Mulches were replenished, as needed, and weeds were controlled throughout the study. The impacts of year, planting method, fertilizer, mulch, and cultivar on leaf and soil nutrient levels over this 10-year study were complex with many interactions among treatments. Soil pH remained within the recommended range for all treatments. Plants fertilized with fish solubles had higher leaf N, P, and K concentrations than those fertilized with feather meal, particularly at the high N rate in both cultivars. By contrast, fertilization with feather meal increased leaf Ca. Compost + sawdust added a cumulative (2007–16) total of 2274, 400, 961, and 2744 kg·ha−1 of N, P, K, and Ca, respectively, over the use of sawdust alone, and increased the concentration of P, K (as much as 90%), Ca, and Mg in the soil relative to other mulches. Soil organic matter content averaged 4.1% under compost + sawdust, 3.3% under sawdust, and 2.9% under weed mat, averaged over the last 5 years. Mulching with weed mat or compost + sawdust increased leaf K compared with sawdust in both cultivars, regardless of fertilizer treatment. Leaf Ca, on the other hand, was highest with sawdust and tended to be lowest with weed mat in both cultivars. Soil nutrient levels were not consistently correlated with leaf nutrient concentrations, other than between soil NO3-N and leaf N (5 years) and between soil and leaf K (4 years). On average, raised beds resulted in higher concentrations of N, P, K, Fe, and Al and lower concentrations of Ca, Mg, and B in the leaves than planting on flat ground. Furthermore, concentrations of N and Ca in recent fully-expanded leaves at standard sampling time was higher in young plants than in mature plants in both cultivars, whereas the opposite was found for leaf P. In ‘Duke’, yield was positively correlated with leaf Ca in 8 out of 9 years and negatively correlated with leaf K and P in 5 and 6 years, respectively. Leaf Ca and Mg were also negatively correlated with leaf K in most years for both cultivars, as was leaf N. Although leaf N concentration was higher with added compost, regardless of fertilizer source in ‘Duke’, and when fertilized with feather meal in ‘Liberty’, this was not correlated with yield. High N rates increased leaf N concentration, but did not result in greater yield. While soil and leaf tissue testing are important to help manage fertilizer programs, the lack of a consistent relationship between soil and plant nutrient status and yield was a reflection of the complicated interactions that occurred among nutrients in these organic production systems. Soil nutrient imbalances and changes in leaf nutrient concentrations associated with extended use of compost + sawdust mulch and fish solubles may lead to growth and yield problems in longer-lived plantings. In addition, the loss of organic matter under weed mat would need to be addressed in long-term plantings for sustainable production.

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Future Perspective in Organic Farming Fertilization

et al. 2019

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A review of optimal systems for organic production of blueberry and blackberry for fresh and processed markets in the northwestern United States

Cited by 24 publications

References 44 publications

Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Differed in Yield and Fruit Quality in Two Organic Production Systems from Planting to Maturity

Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Differed in Yield and Fruit Quality in Two Organic Production Systems from Planting to Maturity

Organic Production Systems in Northern Highbush Blueberry: II. Impact of Planting Method, Cultivar, Fertilizer, and Mulch on Leaf and Soil Nutrient Concentrations and Relationships with Yield from Planting through Maturity

Future Perspective in Organic Farming Fertilization

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