Progress 09/18/09 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1) Evaluate blueberry plant growth, yield, and quality in various certified-organic production systems in two popular fresh-market cultivars; 2) determine the effect of raised beds on soil and plant water status and plant growth, and production; 3) evaluate and continue to develop organic weed management systems in producing blueberries; and 4) develop and evaluate organic fertilizer treatments to optimize plant growth, production, and quality. Approach (from AD-416): Treatments being assessed include planting on raised beds or flat ground, various weed management treatments including weed mat, organic fertilization type and rate, and cultivar. We will collect information on not only the effectiveness of the treatments such as weed mat, sawdust and compost mulches and use of vinegar for weed control on flat ground and raised beds and organic fertilizers and how they interact with sawdust mulch and weed mat, but also the cost effectiveness. We will measure plant growth, yield, fruit quality, weed pressure, soil water status, plant water status, plant tissue and soil nutrient concentration, and organic fertilizer availability. We will make observations on any other pest problems and control them to the best of our ability using organically approved methods. We feel that this study will provide growers with very useful information on the long-term impacts and costs of various organic blueberry production systems during fruiting years. Documents Grant with Oregon State University. Formerly 5358-21000-037-16G. This research was conducted in support of NP 305 objective 1 "Determine nutrient requirements to enhance product quality in woody perennial crops such as grapevine and rhododendron" of the parent project. A long-term systems trial was established to evaluate management practices for organic production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ). The factorial experiment included two planting bed treatments (flat and raised beds), source and rate of fertilizer (feather meal and fish emulsion applied separately at a low, 29�57 kg�ha-1 N, or high rate, 57�102 kg�ha-1 N, depending on planting age), weed management (sawdust mulch, compost topped with sawdust mulch, or weed mat), and cultivar (�Duke� and �Liberty�). The planting was established in Oct. 2006 and was certified organic in 2008. Cumulative yield, over five fruiting seasons (2008-2012) was 23% higher on raised beds than on flat ground. �Duke� plants fertilized with feather meal had greater yield than those fertilized with fish emulsion, but yield of �Liberty� was not affected by the source or rate of fertilizer applied. In both cultivars, fertilization with the high rate of fish emulsion increased fruit firmness and percent soluble solids compared to the low rate of fish emulsion or the use of feather meal. High rates of fertilizer, particularly with fish emulsion, have reduced soil pH over time and have increased leaf nitrogen content (%N) in most years. None of the leaf nutrient concentrations, however, including %N, were correlated to yield. Weed mat was the best option for weed management, while yard debris compost plus sawdust mulch resulted in the most weeds and the highest weed-control cost; yield however was similar between the two treatments and higher in three out of five years than when using sawdust mulch alone. Effects of mulch type on fruit quality were inconsistent over the length of the study. Plants mulched with weed mat required additional irrigation to maintain the same soil water content as those mulched with sawdust or compost plus sawdust, especially when grown on raised beds. Soil organic matter content declined under weed mat and increased under the compost plus sawdust mulch over the length of the study. Soil potassium content increased when using compost plus sawdust mulch. Growth and yield of the �best� treatment combinations have been similar to well-managed conventional production systems.
Impacts
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1) Evaluate blueberry plant growth, yield, and quality in various certified-organic production systems in two popular fresh-market cultivars; 2) determine the effect of raised beds on soil and plant water status and plant growth, and production; 3) evaluate and continue to develop organic weed management systems in producing blueberries; and 4) develop and evaluate organic fertilizer treatments to optimize plant growth, production, and quality. Approach (from AD-416): Treatments being assessed include planting on raised beds or flat ground, various weed management treatments including weed mat, organic fertilization type and rate, and cultivar. We will collect information on not only the effectiveness of the treatments such as weed mat, sawdust and compost mulches and use of vinegar for weed control on flat ground and raised beds and organic fertilizers and how they interact with sawdust mulch and weed mat, but also the cost effectiveness. We will measure plant growth, yield, fruit quality, weed pressure, soil water status, plant water status, plant tissue and soil nutrient concentration, and organic fertilizer availability. We will make observations on any other pest problems and control them to the best of our ability using organically approved methods. We feel that this study will provide growers with very useful information on the long-term impacts and costs of various organic blueberry production systems during fruiting years. This research was conducted in support of objective 305 1B Perennial Crops of the parent project. A long-term systems trial was established to evaluate management practices for organic production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The factorial experiment included two planting bed treatments (flat and raised beds), source and rate of fertilizer (feather meal and fish emulsion applied separately at a low, 29�57 kg�ha-1 N, or high rate, 57�102 kg�ha-1 N, depending on planting age), weed management (sawdust mulch, compost topped with sawdust mulch, or weed mat), and cultivar (�Duke� and �Liberty�). The planting was established in October 2006 and was certified organic in 2008. Cumulative yield, over four fruiting seasons (2008-2011) was 18% higher on raised beds than on flat ground. �Duke� plants fertilized with feather meal had greater yield than those fertilized with fish emulsion, but yield of �Liberty� was not affected by the source or rate of fertilizer applied. In both cultivars, fertilization with the high rate of fish emulsion (57 kg�ha-1 N, 2007-09; 102 kg�ha-1 N, 2010-11) increased fruit firmness and percent soluble solids, but reduced berry weight compared to the low rate of fish emulsion or the use of feather meal. Weed mat was the best option for weed management, while yard debris compost plus sawdust mulch resulted in the most weeds and the highest weed-control cost; yield, however, was similar between the two treatments and higher in two out of three years than when using sawdust mulch alone. Plants mulched with weed mat required additional irrigation to maintain the same soil water content as those mulched with sawdust or compost plus sawdust, especially when grown on raised beds. Growth and yield of the �best� treatment combinations have been similar to well-managed conventional production systems.
Impacts
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1) Evaluate blueberry plant growth, yield, and quality in various certified-organic production systems in two popular fresh-market cultivars; 2) determine the effect of raised beds on soil and plant water status and plant growth, and production; 3) evaluate and continue to develop organic weed management systems in producing blueberries; and 4) develop and evaluate organic fertilizer treatments to optimize plant growth, production, and quality. Approach (from AD-416) Treatments being assessed include planting on raised beds or flat ground, various weed management treatments including weed mat, organic fertilization type and rate, and cultivar. We will collect information on not only the effectiveness of the treatments such as weed mat, sawdust and compost mulches and use of vinegar for weed control on flat ground and raised beds and organic fertilizers and how they interact with sawdust mulch and weed mat, but also the cost effectiveness. We will measure plant growth, yield, fruit quality, weed pressure, soil water status, plant water status, plant tissue and soil nutrient concentration, and organic fertilizer availability. We will make observations on any other pest problems and control them to the best of our ability using organically approved methods. We feel that this study will provide growers with very useful information on the long-term impacts and costs of various organic blueberry production systems during fruiting years. A 0.4 ha (1 acre) planting of blueberry was established in October,2006 to evaluate the effects of cultivar (Duke and Liberty), bed type (flat versus raised beds), weed management [sawdust mulch and hand-weed control; sawdust+compost mulch with acetic acid, flaming, and hand control used as needed; and weed mat], and type and rate of fertilizer (feathermeal and liquid fish emulsion at 57 and 112 kg�ha-1 N) on plant growth, yield, fruit quality, irrigation requirements, and weed presence. The site was certified organic in 2008. In the establishment years, plants grown on raised beds were larger than those on flat ground, but they required more irrigation, particularly with weed mat. To date, weed mat has resulted in the fewest weeds, while sawdust+compost has had the most weeds. Cumulative yield from years 2-4 was 48% greater on raised beds than flat ground, corresponding to improved plant growth measured on raised beds in 2007 and 2008. Although the soil at this research site is considered to be well-drained, there was still an advantage of raised beds. Fertilization with the low rate of fish emulsion or the high rate of feather meal resulted in high yields in 2009 and 2010. In �Duke�, fertilization with the high rate of fish emulsion resulted in lower yields and lower average berry weight than with the low rate of fish emulsion or either rate of feather meal, but this was not the case in �Liberty�. Compost+sawdust and weed mat mulched plots produced greater yield than those mulched with sawdust in 2009 and 2010, though compost+sawdust had the highest yield in 2009. Both �Duke� and �Liberty� had lower fruit firmness when fertilized with the low rate of feather meal than with fish emulsion or the high rate of feather meal. Duke fruit were firmer and had higher percent soluble solids (Brix) when fertilized with a high rate of fish emulsion. Methods of project monitoring included meetings, e-mail, and phone calls.
Impacts
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1) Evaluate blueberry plant growth, yield, and quality in various certified-organic production systems in two popular fresh-market cultivars; 2) determine the effect of raised beds on soil and plant water status and plant growth, and production; 3) evaluate and continue to develop organic weed management systems in producing blueberries; and 4) develop and evaluate organic fertilizer treatments to optimize plant growth, production, and quality. Approach (from AD-416) Treatments being assessed include planting on raised beds or flat ground, various weed management treatments including weed mat, organic fertilization type and rate, and cultivar. We will collect information on not only the effectiveness of the treatments such as weed mat, sawdust and compost mulches and use of vinegar for weed control on flat ground and raised beds and organic fertilizers and how they interact with sawdust mulch and weed mat, but also the cost effectiveness. We will measure plant growth, yield, fruit quality, weed pressure, soil water status, plant water status, plant tissue and soil nutrient concentration, and organic fertilizer availability. We will make observations on any other pest problems and control them to the best of our ability using organically approved methods. We feel that this study will provide growers with very useful information on the long-term impacts and costs of various organic blueberry production systems during fruiting years. Documents Grant with Oregon State University. A 0.4 ha (1 acre) planting of blueberry was established in Oct. 2006 to evaluate the effects of cultivar (Duke and Liberty), bed type (flat versus raised beds), weed management [sawdust mulch and hand-weed control; sawdust+compost mulch with acetic acid, flaming, and hand control used as needed; and weed mat], and type and rate of fertilizer (feathermeal and liquid fish emulsion at 29 and 57 kg.ha-1 N) on plant growth, yield, fruit quality, irrigation requirements, and weed presence. The site was certified organic in 2008. Plants grown on raised beds were larger than those on flat ground but required more irrigation, particularly with weed mat. Weed mat resulted in the fewest weeds while sawdust+compost resulted in the most weeds. In 2008, yield was highest when 29 kg.ha-1 N of fish was applied and when plants were grown on raised beds with weed mat. In year 3 (2009), yield averaged 1.7 kg/plant and was highest when 29 kg.ha-1 of fish or 57 kg.ha-1 of feathermeal was applied and when plants were mulched on raised beds with weed mat or sawdust+compost. Fruit were also firmer at harvest when plants were fertilized with fish rather than feathermeal and when soil was mulched with sawdust compared to weed mat. Weed mat is the least expensive option for weed control so far. Methods of ADODR monitoring included meetings, e-mail, phone calls and site visits.
Impacts
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