Abstract
Abstract. Variable rate (VR) fertilizer application has the potential to improve fertilizer use efficiency, reduce cost of production, and reduce environmental impacts. Two wild blueberry fields were selected in central Nova Scotia to examine the effect of VR fertilization on plant growth and fruit yield as compared to uniform fertilization. The field boundaries, weeds, and bare spots were mapped using real-time kinematics global positioning system (RTK-GPS). The variation in slope was mapped and management zones were delineated. Both fields were divided into two sections (VR and uniform). The GPS-guided prescription maps were generated in ArcGIS 9.3 for VR treatment sections. Three fertilization rates 200, 150, and 100 kg ha-1 were applied in Z1, Z2, and Z3, respectively, with a VR fertilizer spreader. The bare spots and weeds were mapped and classified as a separate class in the prescription maps and zero rate was allocated. For comparison, growers uniform fertilizer rate of 200 kg ha-1 was applied in uniform treatment section of both fields. Soil samples were taken from selected sampling points from each field before and after the fertilization, and soil properties and levels of soil nutrients were determined. Plant growth parameters and fruit yield were also collected from selected points in each field. Plants in uniform treatment sections were taller than VR treatment sections in low lying areas. Plant density, number of branches, and number of buds were non-significantly affected with fertilizer treatments. Plant growth parameters were significantly correlated with soil properties and soil nutrients in both VR and uniform treatments. The fruit yields in VR treatment sections were non-significantly different than uniform treatment section, although mean fruit yield was higher in VR section. VR fertilization saved 39% and 41% fertilizer in Fields 1 and 2, respectively. Results of this study suggested that VR fertilization could increase fruit yield and reduce fertilizer usage in wild blueberry fields.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Uniform fertilization produced taller plants than variable rate fertilization in low lying areas.
Verbatim
e0“Plants in uniform treatment sections were taller than VR treatment sections in low lying areas”
t0“Wild Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer treatments had no significant effect on density, branch number or bud number.
- Taxon
- wild blueberryt0
- Treatment
- fertilizer treatmentse0
- Outcome
- Plant density, number of branches, and number of budse0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“Plant density, number of branches, and number of buds were non-significantly affected with fertilizer treatments”
t0“Wild Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant growth parameters correlated significantly with soil properties and nutrients under both fertilizer treatments.
- Taxon
- wild blueberryt0
- Treatment
- VR and uniform treatmentse0
- Outcome
- Plant growth parameterse0
- Qualifier
- soil properties and soil nutrientse0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Plant growth parameters were significantly correlated with soil properties and soil nutrients in both VR and uniform treatments”
t0“Wild Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean fruit yield was higher under variable rate fertilization, though the yield difference was not significant.
Verbatim
e0“The fruit yields in VR treatment sections were non-significantly different than uniform treatment section, although mean fruit yield was higher in VR section”
t0“Wild Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Variable rate fertilization saved 39% fertilizer in Field 1.
- Taxon
- wild blueberryt0
- Treatment
- VR fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- fertilizere0
- Direction
- savede0
- Value
- 39%e0
- Setting
- Fields 1e0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“VR fertilization saved 39% and 41% fertilizer in Fields 1 and 2, respectively”
t0“Wild Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Variable rate fertilization saved 41% fertilizer in Field 2.
- Taxon
- wild blueberryt0
- Treatment
- VR fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- fertilizere0
- Direction
- savede0
- Value
- 41%e0
- Setting
- 2e0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“VR fertilization saved 39% and 41% fertilizer in Fields 1 and 2, respectively”
t0“Wild Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggested variable rate fertilization could increase fruit yield and reduce fertilizer use.
Verbatim
e0“VR fertilization could increase fruit yield and reduce fertilizer usage in wild blueberry fields”
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