Nutrient Management in Highbush Blueberry Cultivation

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) demands a finely tuned balance of soil acidity and essential nutrients to achieve optimal growth and yield. These plants thrive in soils with a pH between 3.8 and 5.5, where nutrient availability—particularly for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)—is maximised and aluminium toxicity minimised. Ammonium‐based N sources are preferred, as they further acidify the rhizosphere and enhance uptake of certain micronutrients. Phosphorus supports root development and flowering, while potassium contributes to fruit quality and stress tolerance. Calcium and magnesium play key roles in cell‐wall stability and enzymatic function, yet excessive Ca at higher pH can impair root morphology and nutrient translocation. Nutrient delivery methods range from conventional granular fertilisers to drip-water fertigation, each with distinct implications for efficiency, leaching risk and plant safety. Long‐term management must integrate soil testing, targeted amendments (such as elemental sulphur or lime substitutes), substrate selection in soilless systems and precision irrigation to balance yield objectives with environmental safeguards. Emerging strategies emphasise real-time monitoring of soil electrical conductivity and nutrient concentrations in leachate, alongside cultivar-specific recommendations for juvenile versus mature plantings. Globally, these advances inform sustainable practices in diverse production systems, from open fields to protected‐environment and containerised plantings, ensuring high quality berries while mitigating nutrient losses to groundwater and coastal ecosystems.

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Nutrient Management in Highbush Blueberry Cultivation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutrient management in highbush blueberry cultivation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Fertigation: The delivery of liquid fertiliser through an irrigation system, enabling precise timing and placement of nutrients.
Electrical conductivity (EC): A measure of the soil solution’s ability to conduct electric current, reflecting soluble salt and nutrient concentrations.
Leaching: The downward movement of water through soil carrying soluble nutrients beyond the root zone, leading to potential groundwater contamination.
Macronutrients: Essential plant elements required in relatively high amounts, notably nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Soilless substrate: A non-mineral growth medium (e.g. coconut coir, perlite) used to cultivate plants, characterised by its controlled nutrient and pH buffering properties.

References

1. Combined effects of alkaline pH and high Ca concentration on root morphology, cell-wall polysaccharide concentrations and blueberry plant performance. Frontiers in Agronomy (2023).
2. Optimizing Nitrogen Fertigation Rates for Young Southern Highbush Blueberry. Agronomy (2020).
3. Nutrients Leaching in Response to Long-Term Fertigation and Broadcast Nitrogen in Blueberry Production. Plants (2020).