Presentation Type

Proceeding Paper

Publication Date

8-13-2018

Subject Category

Blueberry Culture

Description

In the province of Québec, about 35,000 ha of land are devoted to growing wild lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.). Blueberry fields are located on acidic, well-drained soils with low nutrient levels. To ensure high crop productivity, fertilizers are applied in the spring of the sprout year. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilizer applications on soil P mobility under field conditions. Experiments were conducted in commercial stands of wild blueberries between 2004 and 2008 in the Lake St. Jean area, Québec, Canada. Four P rates (0 to 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) were applied in May of the sprout year. Soil P was determined in the 0–5, 5–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers after Mehlich 3 (PM3) extraction. Following P application, soil PM3 increased significantly in the surface soil layer and in the 5–15 cm soil layer in both the sprout and production years. Phosphorus addition had no significant effect on the 15–30 cm soil layer. The P/(Al+Fe)M3 molar ratio reached 10.7% in the soil surface with the highest P application rate. In the other soil layers, the molar ratio was below 3.10%. Under field conditions, P leaching was limited to the 5–15 cm soil layer but a P build-up occurred in the soil surface. Furthermore, the P/(Al+Fe)M3 molar ratio that was measured in the surface soil layer was very close to the critical value (11.3%) beyond which there is a risk of surface water contamination.

Start Date

13-8-2018 4:45 PM

End Date

13-8-2018 5:00 PM

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Aug 13th, 4:45 PM Aug 13th, 5:00 PM

Phosphorus mobility in acidic wild blueberry soils in Québec, Canada

In the province of Québec, about 35,000 ha of land are devoted to growing wild lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.). Blueberry fields are located on acidic, well-drained soils with low nutrient levels. To ensure high crop productivity, fertilizers are applied in the spring of the sprout year. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilizer applications on soil P mobility under field conditions. Experiments were conducted in commercial stands of wild blueberries between 2004 and 2008 in the Lake St. Jean area, Québec, Canada. Four P rates (0 to 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) were applied in May of the sprout year. Soil P was determined in the 0–5, 5–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers after Mehlich 3 (PM3) extraction. Following P application, soil PM3 increased significantly in the surface soil layer and in the 5–15 cm soil layer in both the sprout and production years. Phosphorus addition had no significant effect on the 15–30 cm soil layer. The P/(Al+Fe)M3 molar ratio reached 10.7% in the soil surface with the highest P application rate. In the other soil layers, the molar ratio was below 3.10%. Under field conditions, P leaching was limited to the 5–15 cm soil layer but a P build-up occurred in the soil surface. Furthermore, the P/(Al+Fe)M3 molar ratio that was measured in the surface soil layer was very close to the critical value (11.3%) beyond which there is a risk of surface water contamination.