Winter vs. summer half-hedging of 'Tifblue' rabbiteye blueberry plants.

摘要

A field study was initiated in mid-July 1988, to investigate the effects of removing growth taller than 1 m from one side in each of 2 successive years (half-hedging; i.e. each plant was fully hedged after 2 years) in summer or winter on total yield, marketable yield and fruit size of mature Vaccinium ashei cv. Tifblue plants. In 1990, yields on summer-hedged plants were reduced by 75% and those on winter-hedged plants by about 92% when compared with non-hedged plants. Fruit size in 1990 was increased by 13 and 26% for summer- and winter-hedged plants, respectively. Total yields did not differ among treatments during the 1991-93 harvests. However, yields were lower in 1991 and 1992 than in 1989 and 1993, which was attributed to adverse weather conditions during vegetative budbreak, growth and flowering. Hedged plants did not yield more than non-hedged plants over the 5-year experimental period. However, winter hedging significantly decreased total yield. Although no significant differences existed between the long term effects of summer and winter half-hedging, marketable yields of the summer-hedged plants were significantly reduced compared with non-hedged plants. Fruit size was negatively correlated with yield.