Research on the Growth of Shoots in Irrigated Blueberry Cultivation (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Abstract

Given the importance and special qualities of blueberries for the human diet, the goal is to extend and develop these cultivations in Romania. The goal of this research is to improve certain aspects of the cultivation technology and water consumption for blueberry crops in the ield, to monitor the effectiveness. Research were conducted on the ield of experiments situated at the Monariu farm, in the town of Ulmeni, Maramureş County, on a soil with moderate acid reaction, made of 8 blocks randomized in 3 repetitions, each of the 24 plots having 10 shrubs, planted on ridges at a distance of 1 m, with a distance of 3 m between rows. Irrigation was carried out using an irrigation system supported by a water source from a well and an energy source of 220 V from the electrical power network; water is stored in two buffer tanks and then taken up through a supply line by a pump and distributed to the water main, then through joints to the zonal pipes from which, through nozzles, the watering of each shrub takes place by the dripping method. From conducted measurements, with drought conditions, following the procedure provided in the research project and graduations of studied factors, it appears that in the vegetation period there is an average growth of sprouts of Hannah's Choice variety, ranging from 23.4 to 50.4 cm for one year old sprouts, 18.8 to 40 cm for two years old sprouts and 9.0 to 21.2 cm for three years old sprouts. For Elliott variety, the average growth of one year old sprouts ranges from 17.2 to 36.6 cm, 11.4 to 25.1 for two years old sprouts and 8.3 to 18.2 for three years old sprouts. From observations we can conclude that there is a faster growth of sprouts from Hannah's variety compared to sprouts from Elliott variety and that in both cases there is a higher growth of one year old sprouts compared to the growth of two and three years old sprouts.