Influence of Soil pH, Sulfur, and Sawdust on Rabbiteye Blueberry Survival, Growth, and Yield1

Abstract

Growth and yield of rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade cv. Tifblue) decreased as soil pH was raised from 4.5 and 7.0. Plant survival decreased at pH 6.0 and 6.5 and all bushes died at pH 7. After 3 growing seasons, bushes were sacrified, plots split, and S added to lower pH to 5.00 or weathered sawdust was added to all plots and the experiment replanted. Replanted bushes in the sawdust plots were greener and produced greater linear growth during the first growing season. Sawdust, even the first year, overcame the harmful effects of high initial soil pH except at pH 7. Optimum growth and production resulted from incorporated sawdust at initial soil pH 5.0. Addition of S was less effective than sawdust in overcoming the harmful effects of high soil pH.

Effects of Soil-applied Elemental Sulfur, Aluminum Sulfate, and Sawdust on Growth of Rabbiteye Blueberries

“…The importance of sawdust amendments to blueberry production has been reported (6,8,12), and is supported in this experiment. Ballinger and Goldston (3) observed that poor plant growth occurred in soils low in organic matter as was the case in this study.…”

“…Cummings et al (12) showed that addition of pine sawdust improved blueberry performance on previously limed plots. Cain (10) found that blueberries grown on soils high in organic matter tolerated increased levels of bases in the foliage without chlorosis.…”

Mulch and Irrigation Placement Effects on Soil Chemistry Properties and Rabbiteye Blueberry Plants Irrigated with Sodic Water

“…The beneficial effect of mulch on blueberry plant growth observed in this experiment is consistent with other data on the rabbiteye blueberry (5,7,23,25). Several factors may account for this effect under our experimental conditions.…”

“…For example, 'Tifblue' plant height and yield ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 m and 0.5 to 1.2 kg for the worst to the best treatment. Maximum third-year 'Tifblue' height and yield data for other states ranged from 0.9 to 1.0 m and 0.3 to 0.8 kg (1,2,7,23,24). Thus, despite the poor condition of plants in the treated plots at the end of the summer (excessive leaf Na, leaf drop, chlorosis, and salt burn), adequate yield and growth were still achieved.…”

Effect of Sulphur Soil Application on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Hindi Banana Cultivar.

“…Many investigators reported the importance of sulphur in improving the productivity of plants (Cummings et al, 1981;Peterson et al, 1987;Abo-Rady et al, 1988, Hening et al, 1991and Kassem et al, 1995.…”