|
|
|
| Horticulture Program HORT-00-11 | |
|
|
|
| Horticulture Program HORT-00-11 | |
EVALUATION OF BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS
FOR SOUTHERN OHIO,
2000Brad R. Bergefurd Extension Agent, Horticulture; Dick Funt Extension Small Fruit Specialist; Thom Harker Research Assistant, Horticulture; Christie Welch Research Assistant, Horticulture; Lynn Miller Research Assistant, Horticulture; Wayne Lewis Farm Manager, Piketon Research & Extension Center; Brad Bapst Research Assistant, Amy Hamilton Summer Assistant; Kristy Moore Summer Assistant; Rodney Robbins Summer Assistant; and Allison Welch Summer Assistant.
This Blueberry cultivar trial has compared 13 cultivars using 4 replications of
each cultivar since the trial was planted in 1992 (Bluecrop, Bluetta, Collins,
and Elliott were replanted in 1995). Objectives are to evaluate potential
cultivars of Blueberry for their suitability in a southern Ohio growing season.
The plots were located at the Ohio State University Piketon Research &
extension Center in Piketon, Ohio. Data was analyzed by SAS statistical
software.
METHODS
Planting:
Plants were field planted on 10/15/1992 by hand.Spacing:
Rows were 12 feet apart, with plants set on level beds 8 feet spacing between each plant in the row. The beds have drip tube irrigation with 4 plants per plot (5’ x 32’) provided a plant density of approximately 453 plants per acre.Soil Type: Doles Silt Loam
Fertilizer:
According to soil test recommendations 50 lb. / acre 0-0-60 and 445 lb. / acre Sulfur were applied as a broadcast application on 11/23/99 using a 3 point hitch Viacon fertilizer spreader.Hand applied ammonium sulfate at a rate of 2 ounces per plant on 5/16/00.
Weed Control: Applied pre-emergent herbicide; Sinbar (4 quarts/acre) plus Princep 90 (4.4 lbs./acre) and Round-up Ultra was applied at the rate of 3 oz./gal H20 with a hand sprayer on 3/24/00. Spot treated weeds using Round-up Ultra at the rate of 3 oz./gal H2O on 6/1/00. After final harvest, Round-up Ultra was applied at the rate of 3 oz./gal H2O. The bird netting was removed; weeds were removed with a lawn mower and weed eater.
Pest Management: Lime sulfur was applied using an air-blast sprayer at the rate of 5 gallons/acre in 100 gallons of water/acre on March 22, 2000. Applied Sevin at 2 quarts/acre plus Benlate at 12 ounces/acre using
a 3-point tractor mounted Air Blast sprayer. Bird netting was installed over the entire field to prevent bird damage to the berries. Applied Imidan at 1.3 lbs./acre using the air-blast sprayer on 6/16/00. Electrified fence is installed around the perimeter of the field to reduce deer damage to the plants.Irrigation:
Trickle irrigated on 5/11, 5/16, 5/26, 7/3, 7/26, 8/14, 8/22, and 9/20.Harvests: (7 total harvests) 6/19, 6/23, 6/26, 7/5, 7/13, 7/24 and 8/2.
RESULTS
There was average fruit set and yield throughout the harvest season. Harvest yield and quality attributes were collected and observed. The cultivar Bluejay had the largest total production per plant for the season at 6.439 lbs. per plant with an average berry weight of 1.4925 grams. The cultivar Toro had the largest average berry weight for the season at 2.0864 grams. With field trials similar to this, Blueberry crops can fit into the production scheme for Southern Ohio growers. The growing season and average daily heat units seem adequate to produce high quality Blueberry crop.
Blueberry evaluations and field trials will continue at the Ohio State University Piketon Research & Extension Center in 2001. Growers are invited to visit the many fruit and vegetable trials that are being performed for personal observations throughout the season.
Table 1.
Yields and Quality comparisons from replicated Blueberry cultivar trials in southern Ohio: Ohio StateUniversity Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 2000
|
2000 BLUEBERRY VARIETY TRIAL |
||||
|
Variety |
Total Yield (g) |
Avg Weight of 25 Berries (g) |
lbs / Plant |
Avg Berry Size (g) |
|
Bluejay |
5887.0 |
37.3130 |
6.4390 |
1.4925 |
|
Jersey |
5869.0 |
24.1880 |
6.4190 |
0.9675 |
|
Sierra |
4232.0 |
30.1500 |
4.6290 |
1.2060 |
|
Bluecrop |
4097.0 |
40.9250 |
4.4810 |
1.6370 |
|
Toro |
4056.0 |
52.1610 |
4.4370 |
2.0864 |
|
Coville |
3618.0 |
49.3170 |
3.9570 |
1.9727 |
|
Northland |
3589.0 |
28.9460 |
3.9250 |
1.1578 |
|
Herbert |
2730.0 |
41.7130 |
2.9860 |
1.6685 |
|
North Country |
1517.0 |
19.2080 |
1.6590 |
0.7683 |
|
Collins |
1494.0 |
33.4050 |
1.6340 |
1.3362 |
|
Spartan |
1182.0 |
31.8010 |
1.2920 |
1.2720 |
|
Elliott |
1153.0 |
30.2500 |
1.2610 |
1.2100 |
|
Bluetta |
47.0 |
6.5000 |
0.0520 |
0.2600 |
|
LSD |
4191.5 |
18.5330 |
4.5844 |
0.7413 |
Extension Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 2000
|
SPRAY AND IRRIGATION DATA FOR 2000 |
||||||
|
DATE |
BLUEBERRIES |
|||||
|
3/22 |
sprayed |
Lime sulfur @ 5 gal/acre |
||||
|
3/24 |
sprayed |
Sinbar @ 4 qts/acre and Princep 90 @ 4.4 lbs/acre and Round-up Ultra @ 3 oz/gal H2O |
||||
|
5/11 |
irrigated |
2.5 hours |
||||
|
5/26 |
irrigated |
5 hours |
||||
|
5/26 |
sprayed |
Sevin @ 2 qts./acre and Benlate @ 12 oz/acre |
||||
|
6/1 |
sprayed |
Spot treated w/ Round-up Ultra @ 3 oz/gal H2O |
||||
|
6/16 |
sprayed |
Imidan @ 1.3 lbs/acre |
||||
|
7/3 |
irrigated |
3 hours |
||||
|
7/26 |
Irrigated 3.5 hours |
|||||
|
8/14 |
irrigated |
3.5 hours |
||||
|
8/22 |
irrigated |
3 hours |
||||
|
9/20 |
irrigated |
3.5 hours |
||||
Table 3. Rainfall amounts and average high and low temperatures for the 2000 season: Ohio State
University Extension Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 2000
|
2000 PIKETON WEATHER SUMMARY |
||||||
|
Average High Temperature |
Average Temperature |
Normal Average Temperature |
Average Low Temperature |
Total Precipitation |
Normal Precipitation |
|
|
January |
40.20 |
30.00 |
30.80 |
18.80 |
2.51 |
3.10 |
|
February |
52.20 |
40.80 |
33.00 |
30.20 |
4.95 |
2.10 |
|
March |
59.20 |
47.30 |
41.90 |
34.60 |
3.03 |
4.50 |
|
April |
65.50 |
53.30 |
52.60 |
41.10 |
2.34 |
3.20 |
|
May |
77.90 |
66.10 |
61.70 |
53.10 |
0.56 |
4.50 |
|
June |
82.90 |
71.50 |
72.40 |
60.50 |
0.06 |
3.90 |
|
July |
82.30 |
71.60 |
75.90 |
61.30 |
3.35 |
4.00 |
|
August |
82.30 |
71.30 |
74.10 |
60.10 |
2.37 |
2.70 |
|
September |
75.20 |
63.60 |
65.10 |
53.90 |
3.95 |
1.90 |
|
October |
71.20 |
55.80 |
54.20 |
43.30 |
1.13 |
1.90 |
|
November |
51.90 |
41.50 |
42.60 |
31.30 |
1.01 |
3.00 |
|
December |
34.40 |
25.70 |
36.20 |
17.80 |
2.84 |
2.10 |
|
2000 Averages |
64.60 |
53.21 |
53.38 |
42.17 |
2.34 |
3.08 |
