Yield of Micropropagated ‘Allen’ Black Raspberry Plants Reduced by Bark Mulch, Shade Cloth and Folicote

Establishment treatments were evaluated on micro-propagated ‘Allen’ black raspberry (Rubus occidentalisL.) plants to determine their influence on vegetative growth and yield. Treatments included shade cloth, a foliar application of Folicote antitrans-pirant, a shredded hardwood bark mulch, shade cloth + bark mulch, Folicote + bark mulch, and a hand-weeded control. During the establishment year (1990), plants in all bark mulch treatments had higher mean leaf temperatures than those that were under shade cloth with no mulch applied. Shade cloth or bark mulch treatments reduced soil temperature by an average of ≥ 2.5°C relative to hand-weeding. Cane length of plants in all bark treatment was reduced when compared to that of plants that were hand-weeded. In 1991, handweeded plants produced the greatest fruit yield, shaded or Folicoetreated plants had intermediate yields, and plants in all bark treatments had the lowest yields.