Nutrient Management of Berry Crops Bernadine C. Strik Extension Berry Crops Professor Department of Horticulture Nutrient management guides available http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalogue 1
Good nutritional programs do not compensate for poor management Choose a good site Choose good soil drainage (or improve) Eliminate perennial weeds (hard to manage and will compete) Consider any issues related to prior crops on site including any cover crops Prune plants well Manage weeds, diseases, and insects Irrigate plantings properly All affect plant nutrition Key questions related to nutrient management How much nutrient should be applied? When is the best time to apply the nutrient? What source of nutrient or what material is best to apply? What method of application is best? 2
Morphology of Raspberry & Blackberry Primocane: first year cane, often vegetative Floricane: second year cane, always flowering/fruiting; Canes are biennial (cane or cane portion dies after fruiting) Roots and crown (base of plant) are perennial Primocane Growing season May fruit at tip in Primocane-fruiting types Primocanes grow winter Floricane Produces fruiting laterals in spring Floricanes die Fruiting Raspberry Fruiting Lateral Floricanes Primocanes Early Spring 3
Blackberry Fruiting Lateral Marion during harvest Canes are biennial as in raspberry and die after fruiting Primocanes First year Always vegetative Floricanes Second year Always fruiting Floricanes at budbreak Pre-Plant Soil Testing Adjust soil nutrients, prior to planting if required Obtain representative soil sample of field take down to tillage depth Test well in advance of planting Adjust soil nutrients based on test results 4
Critical levels for soil nutrient content Nutrient Unit Blueberry Caneberry Strawberry ph (2:1; in water) target: 4.5 to 5.5 5.6 to 6.5 5.4 to 6.5 Deficient at less than: Phosphorus (P; Bray) ppm 25 to 40 20 to 40 45 Phosphorus (Olsen) ppm 10 to 20 10 to 20 20 Potassium (K) ppm 100 to 150 150 to 350 75 to 175 Calcium (Ca) ppm 1000 1000 1000 Magnesium (Mg) ppm 60 120 120 Manganese (Mn) ppm 20 to 60 20 to 60 20 to 60 Boron (B) ppm 0.5 to 1.0 0.5 to 1.0 1.0 EC ds/m 2 2 2 Soil ph affects nutrient availability blueberry Strawberry caneberry Optimum ph 5
Plant into soil with a ph in desired range Plants are adapted to taking up nutrients when soil ph is within specified range Problems occur when soil ph is outside this range (e.g. high soil ph issues in blueberry) Soil ph too high; lime induced iron deficiency in blueberry Keep soil ph in desired range Fertilization lowers soil ph (every 100 lb N/acre/year drops soil ph 0.1 unit) If ph drops below recommended level then nutrient problems can occur It is very difficult to significantly raise soil ph (with lime) after planting Soil ph too low in blueberry Aluminum toxicity 6
Soil testing in established longlived plantings Collect samples every 2 to 3 years unless correcting a problem Sample at the same time of year, but not in spring (right after fertilization) Sample to a depth of 1.5 to 2 ft in the row for caneberry & blueberry (remove mulch in blueberry) Keep records Key questions related to nutrient management How much nutrient should be applied? When is the best time to apply the nutrient? What source of nutrient or what material is best to apply? What method of application is best? 7
Once soil fertility ideal for crop, start with recommended fertilizer application rates in guides (e.g. Nitrogen rates) Crop Planting year (lb N/acre) Mature (lb N/acre) June-bearing strawberry 50-90 50 Day-neutral strawberry 50-60 50-60 (continual cropping in summer/fall) Floricane-fruiting blackberry 30-50 50-80 & raspberry Primocane-fruiting raspberry 50-70 70-100 & blackberry Blueberry 0.8 oz/plant N rate increases as planting ages 100-165 from year 5 to 8+ Adjust Nutrient Programs with Tissue Testing in Perennial Fruit Crops & Observations of Growth Tissue to sample Collect 50 of the most recent fully-expanded leaves ~ 12 inches from tip of primocane in caneberries (1 leaf per cane); shoots below fruiting area in blueberry Tissue sampling in blueberry Sample cultivars separately as tissue nutrient concentrations differ Time of sampling important Tissue sampling in caneberry Sample problem plants separately from control plants (Hughes et al., 1979) 8
Time of Sampling Tissue sampling should be done when leaf nutrient concentrations are most stable in late-july to early-august (shaded area) Data from Bryla and Strik Time of Sampling Crop Sample time Tissue to sample Comments June-bearing strawberry After renovation (~ mid- to late-aug.) Most recent fully-expanded leaves Soil sampling best for short-term field plantings Floricane-fruiting blackberry late-july to early-august & raspberry Primocane leaves approx. 1 ft from tip Standards are based on Marion and Meeker Primocane-fruiting raspberry late-july (rasp) Most recent fully expanded primocane Standards for primocane raspberry need modifying & blackberry from bloom - early red fruit (blackberry) leaf Standards are being developed Blueberry late-july to early-august Most recent fully-expanded leaves Avoid whips (sample from laterals) Standards developed from Bluecrop 9
Sampling to diagnose causes of leaf symptoms Sample leaves from problem plants & normal looking plants and compare results at any time of year Cultivar Differences (e.g. blackberry) Primocane leaves, grower site (late July); all fertilized same (Fernandez, Strik, Bryla, in progress) 10
Leaf nutrient sufficiency levels Late July-early Aug Nutrient Blueberry Caneberry Strawberry Nitrogen (%N) 1.76 to 2.0 2.3 to 3.0 2.5 to 3.0 Phosphorus (%P) 0.11 to 0.4 0.19 to 0.45 0.15 to 0.3 Potassium (%K) 0.41 to 0.7 1.3 to 2.0 1.0 to 2.0 Calcium (%Ca) 0.41 to 0.8 0.6 to 2.0 1.0 to 2.0 Magnesium (%Mg) 0.13 to 0.25 0.3 to 0.6 0.2 to 0.5 Sulfur (%S) 0.11 to 0.16 0.1 to 0.2 0.11 to 0.4 Manganese (ppm Mn) 30 to 350 50 to 300 50 to 650 Boron (ppm B) 30 to 80 30 to 70 25 to 45 Iron (ppm Fe) 60 to 200 60 to 250 60 to 200 Zinc (ppm Zn) 8 to 30 15 to 50 20 to 50 Copper (ppm Cu) 5 to 15 6 to 20 6 to 20 If tissue nutrients outside range fertilization may be needed Key questions related to nutrient management How much nutrient should be applied? When is the best time to apply the nutrient? What source of nutrient or what material is best to apply? What method of application is best? 11
Best time to apply fertilizer Varies with: Berry crop grown Fertilizer nutrient being applied Fertilizer source being used & application method In general, apply nutrients that are relatively immobile in soil (P, K, Mg, Ca) in fall or late winter as granular products Apply needed micronutrients as foliar products to target tissue Apply N fertilizer based on research of N uptake in berry crops Avoid late fertilization with N in many berry crops Nitrogen N deficient blueberry Mobile in plant and soil N sufficient raspberry N is present in many essential compounds Deficiency: general chlorosis in older leaves; poor growth Excess: increased vigor, may decrease yield & quality N deficient Manage N fertility by monitoring leaf N concentration and plant growth; base initial rates on recommendations & known plant gains & losses 12
Increase Possible Negative Effects of Above-ideal Nitrogen Fertilization N and K fertilizer effects, Thornless Evergreen (Nelson & Martin, 1986) Berry N and K Yield wt. Brix N sufficient Firmness raspberry (lb/a) (tons/a) (g) (%) (N) N deficient 0 2.5 a 3.2 a 13.4 a 3.98 a 60 3.6 b 3.5 b 12.4 b 4.06 b 120 3.1 c 3.3 a 12.9 c 3.82 a In Arapaho blackberry, N rate had no effect on yield or berry weight (Naraguma & Clark, 1998) Effect of increasing N fertilization on yield Powerpoint Templates and quality of blueberry (schematic) FBI Berry weight Yield Increasing N rate Source: Oscar Vargas, Page OSU 26 13
New plantings - Nitrogen Apply recommended rates Dole out fertilizer in small amounts as plants have small, shallow root systems Strawberries 14
Fertilization: Recommend 50 lb N/acre at renovation for June-bearers Renovation = after-harvest planting renewal Only in June-bearing strawberry, includes: mowing, fertilizing, irrigating, and matted row and weed management June-bearing field right after harvest 15
Renovation Mow ~ 2 weeks post-harvest Fertilize Irrigate Plants form flower buds for next year s crop June-bearing Strawberry Do not fertilize with N in the spring Spring N promotes leaf growth & does not increase yield Greater leaf growth often leads to more fruit rot 16
Fertilization in day-neutral strawberry: These are not renovated. Dole required N out over fruiting season.with drip irrigation under plastic would need to fertigate Albion hill system, Oregon Unique Nutrient Characteristics of Perennial Fruit Crops N, P, K, Mg and Mn are retained as reserves in dormant tissues (buds, wood & roots) for remobilization in spring Nutrients are recycled into the soil as dropped flowers & fruit, leaf fall & prunings 17
Fertilization in blackberry N taken up into floricanes & primocanes N taken up into crown N taken up into fruit & primocanes May Apr Jun ~ 30% of stored N remobilized for floricane growth N removed in fruit Jul N stored in floricane & primocane leaves Internal N cycling Aug N reallocated from floricane to primocane Sept Oct N withdrawn from primocane leaves N uptake into primocanes, crown, roots Nov N removed in floricane prunings (some recovery) Mar Data from Mohadjer, Strik, Righetti (2001) Slide format adapted from D. Neilsen Feb N stored in primocanes crown & roots Jan Dec N lost during leaf senescence (some recovery) 46 lb/a N removed 18
Primocane growth: 16 lb N/a 22 lb N/a Fruit production: 17 lb N/a 15 lb N/a Caning out (Aug.): 27 lb N/a 36 lb N/a From: Harkins, Strik, Bryla (2013) Black Diamond Marion Fertilization with N in trailing blackberry Apply granular N in split portions: half in early April rest in mid-june If fertigating, it s more difficult to get adequate N on when don t need to irrigate (suggest using granular application first) Marion in early April 19
Summer-bearing raspberry Growth/physiology similar to blackberry Fertilize with N in ~ late March/early April through June. Split applications Summer-bearing black raspberry Growth/physiology similar to red raspberry. Fertilize with N in ~ late March/early April through June. Split applications 20
Blueberry N fertilization Start at early bloom finish in late June/early July Enough N stored in plant & new N & good pruning for fruit production & early growth 21
Need N for post-harvest growth for next year s crop Use pruning and N fertilization to get good growth but not late growth Floral buds Vegetative buds Fruit buds set at tip of current season s growth as growth slows in late summer (short days and cool nights) 22
Late growth (and reduced fruit bud set) due to late fertilization with N Bluejay Sept. 29 Liberty Good bud set Liberty Some bud set then late growth from late N application 23
Late growth is susceptible to frost or winter cold damage Winter damage, WA Nitrogen rate recommended in management guide: 100 lb N/acre for mature, un-mulched plantings Younger plantings receive proportionally less Other nutrients based on soil and tissue testing 24
Weed mat, Duke, Oregon Impact of sawdust mulch Sawdust immobilizes fertilizer N Add ~ 25 lb N/a when applying 3 inch deep mulch 25
Phosphorus Early season P deficiency due to cool soil temp Mobile in plant, but immobile in soil Involved in photosynthesis, other metabolic processes and part of DNA P deficient plants are stunted and often dark green; leaves may have red tinge due to accumulation of anthocyanins Excess P will increase root to shoot ratio Excess P may lead to micro-nutrient deficiencies Incorporate prior to planting, if needed. Surface applications of granular P not available to roots. Can apply through drip. Potassium Mobile in plant, but immobile in soil Activator of many enzymes essential for photosynthesis & respiration, and to form starch and proteins; related to osmotic potential and turgor pressure Tissue levels related to crop load or time of fruiting as K levels in fruit high Adequate levels needed for fruit firmness K deficient plants have older leaves with necrotic lesions High soil K and low leaf %K often related to production problems Incorporate prior to planting, if needed. Apply granular K in the fall (no more than 125 lb/a per application). Can apply through drip. 26
Magnesium Blueberry Raspberry, Mg Deficiency Mobile in plant, but immobile in soil Present in chlorophyll molecule, combines with ATP, activator of many enzymes essential for photosynthesis, respiration, and to form DNA Deficient plants have older leaves with inter-veinal necrosis or edges starting red and turning brown Deficiencies more common on sandy soil with low ph or if soil K is high Incorporate prior to planting, if needed. Apply granular Mg in the fall. Can apply through drip. Sulfur S toxicity Moves with water in transpiration stream Required for protein synthesis Deficiency symptoms rare in blueberry due to use of fertilizers with sulfate Toxicity often reflected as salt injury (see photo) Uptake is not sensitive to soil ph Most commonly seen with over application of S in blueberry to lower soil ph 27
Boron Very immobile in plant; mobile in soil Required for normal root tip elongation, cell division in shoot tip, normal elongation of pollen tubes in Rubus, B deficiency reduces percent bud break and increases crumbly fruit Toxicity can occur tip burning of shoots & leaf edges Annual applications, without soil or tissue tests not recommended as may reduce yield in raspberry Toxicity, grape Incorporate prior to planting, if needed. Apply granular B in the fall. Foliar applications effective if timed well. Calcium Strawberry Erect blackberry omafra.gov.on.ca Immobile in plant and soil; moves in xylem Required for cell division, to form cell walls, and normal membrane functions; Ca concentrations in cells are usually kept low by plant to prevent formation of salts; many enzymes are inhibited by high Ca in cells Deficiency symptoms in younger leaves; deformed, twisted tissues; low Ca may reduce fruit firmness Low soil moisture & cool, cloudy, humid conditions limit %Ca With drip irrigation, soil Ca may leach over time Incorporate prior to planting, if needed. Apply granular Ca in the fall. Can apply through drip. Foliar Ca? 28
Question of the Day Your grandma has osteoporosis? Should you feed her lots of lettuce or lots of apples? Why? Lettuce has 33% more Ca per unit fresh weight than apples 1 cup fresh lettuce has ~ 10 mg Ca 1 cup fresh apple has ~ 7.5 mg Ca Iron (Fe) Immobile in plant and soil Required for chlorophyll formation; forms part of enzymes and proteins Fe is internally precipitated in cells or formed into insoluble compounds Deficiency symptoms in younger leaves; interveinal chlorosis Fe is more available in soil at lower ph & may form insoluble precipitates with excess P Commonly seen in blueberry when grown at above ideal soil ph 29
Key questions related to nutrient management How much nutrient should be applied? When is the best time to apply the nutrient? What source of nutrient or what material is best to apply? What method of application is best? Ammonium vs. Nitrate Species adapted to low soil ph Species adapted to medium-high soil ph NH 4 + NO 3-30
Fertilizer sources (inorganic) Best N source varies with berry crop For strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry, fertilize with nitrate (NO 3- ) forms of N (e.g. calcium nitrate, 15-0-0 [varies]; ammonium nitrate, 34-0-0; or blends) For blueberry fertilize with the ammonium form of N (NH 4+ ) (e.g. ammonium sulfate, 21-0-0; urea, 46-0-0) Avoid fertilizers with chloride (Cl) in blueberry In blueberry use potassium sulfate (K 2 SO 4,0-0-50) In caneberry & strawberry use muriate of potash (KCl, 0-0-60) or potassium nitrate (13-0-45) if also need N Use Sul-Po-Mag if Mg also needed (0-0-22) Use MAP or DAP mono- or di-ammonium phosphate (11-52-0 or 18-46-0 if need N and P) Maintain soil ph in desired range for the crop Affects rate of nitrification and nutrient availability Fertilizer sources (inorganic) Liquid sources of N available for fertigation systems For strawberry & caneberry use products with nitrate-n source (e.g. UAN a mixture of urea, ammonium nitrate and water, 30-0-0 [varies]) For blueberry, products like liquid urea (20-0-0) and N-Phuric acid (urea-sulfuric acid blend, 15-0-0-49) are available 31
Fertilizer sources (organic) Animal based Use of fresh manures not recommended/omri approved Animal meal products (e.g. blood, bone, feather, poultry litter) Liquid products (e.g. fish emulsion) may be fertigated Composts (plant or animal based) may be used before planting or as a mulch after planting Always test compost prior to use Plant based Liquid distilled products (e.g. corn steep liquor) may be fertigated Alfalfa or soybean meal Various teas, seaweed, humic acids Organic (OMRI approved) fertilizers [examples] Feather meal (13-0-0) Granular, ph 5.7; EC 1.7 ds/m Applied as a split 2x. early-april & mid-may Fish emulsion (4-1-1) Liquid, ph 3.7; EC 20.4 ds/m Applied as a split 7x. mid-april through early-july. Dilute 1:10 http://www.planetnatural.com/ Corn/Fish blend (2.5-2.5-1.5) Pelletized Soybean meal (7-1-2) 32
Composts test! Douglas fir sawdust Yard debris compost ph: 4.2 C:N ratio: 441 N (%): 0.1 P (ppm): 255 K (ppm): 46 B (ppm): 2.1 Mn (ppm) 61 ph: 7.3 C:N ratio: 21 N (%): 1.1 P (ppm): 2356 K (ppm): 562 B (ppm): 7.8 Mn (ppm) 540 Composts Acidify composts before use in blueberry? Acidification prior to amending in soil improved growth (Costello et al. 2011) Acidified pine sawdust used for production on alkaline soils in Switzerland (Suter et al., 2010) 33
Key questions related to nutrient management How much nutrient should be applied? When is the best time to apply the nutrient? What source of nutrient or what material is best to apply? What method of application is best? Apply fertilizer to the root area for efficient uptake Soil surface 0.0 0.1 0.2 Soil depth (m) 0.3 5-year-old blueberries 0.4 Blueberry is a shallow-rooted crop compared to many perennial fruit crops 0.5 'Duke' 'Bluecrop' 'Elliott' 0.6 0 10 20 30 40 50 Root length density (cm roots/cm -3 soil) Bryla & Strik (2007) 34
Fertilize the in-row area to distribute products where roots are located Where to apply in strawberry Broadcast granular products over entire field area due to close row spacing 35
Fertilization in blackberry Apply N as broadcast band in row \ One acre Plant Grass Powerpoint Templates Total fertilizer required/acre is applied as broadcast band Page 72 36
Calculating rate of product to apply: 34 25-25 You need to apply 80 lb N/acre The granular fertilizer product is 34-25-25 The fertilizer product contains 34 % nitrogen The amount of fertilizer to apply per acre = (lbs of fertilizer recommended/acre % nutrient in product) ( 80 lb N/acre 0.34) = 235 lbs of product You are also applying: ( 235 lb product x 0.25) = 59 lbs of P 2 O 5 and K 2 O per acre Calculating how much product per foot of row: The fertilizer product is 34-25-25 ( 80 lb N/acre 0.34) = 235 lbs of product/acre The fertilizer should be applied in a broadcast band centered on row with 235 lbs of product/acre plant X X X X X X 10 between rows fertilizer band There are 43,560 ft 2 per acre If rows are spaced 10 ft apart, then there are 4,356 ft of row per acre (43,560/10) If 235 lb of product needs to be applied per acre, then: 235 lb/4,356 ft = 0.054 lb/ft of row or 5.4 lb of product per 100 ft row Calibrate your spreader accordingly 37
Weed mat, Duke, Oregon Soil methods of application Hand apply liquid or granular around young plants drip line Apply through drip irrigation system (fertigate) Apply granular to in-row area on top of soil or organic mulch OR open weed mat and apply granular or liquid products 38
ms/cm Soil solution Powerpoint EC Templates measurements in Blueberry Peaks of EC after granular application affect yield and plant growth 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 Soil salinity (EC) - average growing season Fertigation reduces salinity levels due to better nutrient distribution and supply 0.5 0.0 2008 2009 2010 2011 Fertigation (urea) Granular (Amm Sulf) Source: Oscar Vargas, Page OSU 77 Foliar feeding? Foliar applications are often an effective method of correcting micronutrient deficiencies, but are not effective for application of macro-nutrients (e.g. N, P, K) Use foliar applications for micronutrient deficiencies (e.g. B) 39
Summary Test and adjust soil prior to planting Start fertilization program based on published recommendations Observe plant growth and any symptoms and test leaf tissue to asses plant nutrient status Summary, continued Don t rely on standards for tissue testing at other times of year Adjust fertilizer program if needed Fertilizer required is affected by plant age, canopy size, yield, time of year Adjust fertilizer source based on berry crop grown and production system Test for soil nutrient status every 2-3 years and adjust if needed 40
Native Vaccinium, Lake Scott, Ore. 41