EVALUATION OF BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS
for SOUTHERN OHIO
, 1999
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.Weed Control: Round-up Ultra was applied at the rate of 3 oz./gal H20 with a hand sprayer in early June. No other herbicide was applied. After harvest was complete and the bird netting was removed, weeds were removed with a lawn mower and weed eater.
Pest Management: .64 oz
fl. Oz. Sevimol per gallon H20 was applied with a 3 point tractor mounted Air Blast sprayer. Bird netting was installed over the entire field to prevent bird damage to the berries. Electrified fence is installed around the perimeter of the field to reduce deer damage to the plants.Irrigation:
Trickle irrigated on 7/9, 7/12, 7/20, 8/6, 8/13, 9/10, and 9/16.Harvests: (7 total harvests) 6/1, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/24, 6/28 and 7/2.
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 3.11 lbs per plant with an average berry weight of .8225 grams. The cultivar Toro had the largest average berry weight for the season at 1.5350 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 2000. 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 State University Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 1999|
Cultivar |
Total Yield per Plot(grams) |
Berries (grams) |
Lbs/plant |
Ave. Berry Size (grams) |
|
Bluejay |
2847.8 |
20.5580 |
3.1175 |
0.8225 |
|
Herbert |
2572.0 |
25.9180 |
2.8150 |
1.0375 |
|
Jersey |
2404.5 |
13.6050 |
2.6300 |
0.5450 |
|
Toro |
2131.8 |
38.4150 |
2.3325 |
1.5350 |
|
Coville |
2123.5 |
29.0750 |
2.3225 |
1.1625 |
|
Bluecrop |
1496.5 |
26.7000 |
1.6375 |
1.0675 |
|
Sierra |
1378.5 |
18.5430 |
1.5100 |
0.7425 |
|
Spartan |
1050.5 |
18.6250 |
1.1500 |
0.7450 |
|
Elliott |
916.8 |
26.8750 |
1.0050 |
1.0750 |
|
Collins |
866.8 |
20.2500 |
0.9500 |
0.8100 |
|
Northland |
583.5 |
10.2930 |
0.6375 |
0.4125 |
|
North Country |
326.0 |
10.2930 |
0.3600 |
0.4125 |
|
Bluetta |
75.3 |
8.9580 |
0.0850 |
0.3575 |
|
LSD |
1572.7 |
10.1960 |
1.7211 |
2.0281 |
Table 2. Spray and Irrigation Data for Blueberry cultivar trials in southern Ohio: Ohio State University Extension Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 1999
|
SPRAY AND IRRIGATION DATA FOR 1999 |
|||||
|
DATE |
BLUEBERRIES |
||||
|
9-Jul |
irrigated |
3 hours |
|||
|
12-Jul |
irrigated |
3 hours |
|||
|
13-Jul |
sprayed |
Sevimol @ .64 oz/gal |
|||
|
H2O |
|||||
|
20-Jul |
irrigated |
3 hours |
|||
|
6-Aug |
irrigated |
3 hours |
|||
|
13-Aug |
irrigated |
3 hours |
|||
|
10-Sep |
irrigated |
||||
|
16-Sep |
irrigated |
||||
|
23-Nov |
applied Sulfur @ 445#/acre |
||||
|
0-0-60 @ 50#/acre |
|||||
Table 3. Rainfall amounts and average high and low temperatures for the 1999 season: Ohio State University Extension Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 1999
|
|
1999 Weather Summary @ Piketon, Ohio |
|||||
|
Ave. High Temp |
Avg Temp |
Normal Ave Temp |
Avg Low Temp |
Total Precipitation |
Normal Precipitation |
|
|
January |
45 |
34.6 |
30.8 |
24.3 |
4.7 |
3.1 |
|
February |
49.1 |
37.6 |
33.4 |
27.3 |
3.34 |
2.1 |
|
March |
50.4 |
38.7 |
41.9 |
26.1 |
1.85 |
4.5 |
|
April |
68.7 |
56.4 |
52.6 |
44.2 |
2.11 |
3.2 |
|
May |
78.6 |
63.9 |
61.7 |
48.4 |
1.37 |
4.5 |
|
June |
85.1 |
72.5 |
72.4 |
59.9 |
1.15 |
3.9 |
|
July |
92.5 |
79.1 |
75.9 |
66.4 |
3.82 |
4 |
|
August |
84.8 |
71.7 |
74.1 |
59.7 |
5.42 |
2.7 |
|
September |
78 |
62.2 |
65.1 |
47.1 |
0.87 |
1.9 |
|
October |
68.5 |
53.3 |
54.2 |
40.4 |
2.44 |
1.9 |
|
November |
60.5 |
47.3 |
42.6 |
35.1 |
2.22 |
3 |
|
December |
46 |
35.9 |
36.2 |
26.1 |
3.1 |
2.1 |
|
1999 |
67.1 |
54.3 |
53.4 |
42.1 |
32.4 |
37.1 |
