Influence of Pruning Method, Fertilizer and Terbacil on the Growth and Yield of the Lowbush Blueberry

Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) plants were pruned by rotary mowing or oil burning. Three rates of fertilizer and four rates of terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) were applied. Burned plots produced twice as many blueberries as those mowed. High rates of fertilizer depressed yields of burned plants but not of mowed plants. Pruning method did not influence element concentrations in blueberry leaves. An increase in winter injury to flower primordia was associated with an increase in fertilizer rate. Terbacil applications increased blueberry yield only on plants pruned by burning. A system to prune plants closer to the soil surface needs to be developed.