Year: 1987
Type: article
Abstract: A moisture accounting method was used to schedule trickle irrigation on 3-year-old highbush blueberry plants ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) ‘Bluecrop’ planted in 140-liter barrels. Crop coefficients (K) of 1.00, 0.75, and 0.50 were used to relate Class “A” Weather Bureau pan evaporation to consumptive water use during three growth stages. No significant differences were found in yield, total berry number, average berry size, berry pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), TSS : acids ratio, and vegetative growth among the irrigation treatments. Significant differences in initiated flower buds were seen, but no trends were noted. An average water savings over the entire season of 57.0%, 67.7%, and 78.5% of the currently recommended irrigation rate of 3.8 liter·day −1 was observed when irrigation was scheduled using K values of 1.00, 0.75, and 0.50, respectively. A K value of 0.75 was considered to be the optimum crop coefficient for young highbush blueberries growing under Arkansas conditions.
Source: HortScience
Authors: Patrick L. Byers, James N. Moore
Institution: University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W2527010728