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Knoll Acre Blueberries: A Sustainable Organic Production Project

Project Design

This blueberry production project is designed be economically sustainable and productive, but is also designed to provide new information and insights into best practices of organic blueberry production.

Experimental Designs

  • A Simple Design
     
    Compost
    Treatments     		 Mulch
    Type/Style    		 Conventional
    Blueberry
    Plant #    		 Organic
    Blueberry
    Plant #    		 # of
    Different
    Cultivars
    Horse
    Manure &
    Sawdust    		 Wood
    chips /
    Raised
    beds    		 0 32 5
    Horse
    Manure &
    Sawdust    		 Wood
    chips /
    Mounded
    beds    		 19 22 5
    Sheep
     Manure
    & Hay    		 Wheat
    straw /
    Raised
    beds    		 0 24 5
    Sheep
     Manure
    & Hay    		 Wheat
    straw /
    Mounded
    beds    		 0 23 5
    Pine
     Straw    		 Pine
    straw /
    Mounded
    beds    		 0 22 4
    Prof
    Mulch    		 Prof
    mulch /
    Mounded
    beds    		 0 33 5
    Totals 19 156
    Total #
    Blueberry
    Plants:    		 175
             
  • Assessment Groups
    Experimental
     Treatments    		        
    Approach Organic Conventional
    (not-organic)    		    
    Compost
    Treatments    		 House Manure
    & Sawdust    		 Sheep Manure
    &  Hay    		 Pine Straw
    & Chips    		 Planters'
    Choice
    Covering
    Mulches    		 Wood chips Wheat straw Pine straw Planters'
    Choice
    Bed Styles Raised oak beds:
    8-10 inches mulch    		 Mounded beds:
    4-5 inches mulch    		    

Experimental Design Details

  • Compare organic versus conventional (non-organic) production practices on blueberry plants considering the following aspects:
    • economics
    • plant health and vigor
    • productivity
    • resistance to disease and insects.
  • Contrast the suitability of five blueberry cultivars for our area of the Shenandoah Valley
  • Determine the cost/benefit and productivity values of three introduced growing practices on the organic plot:
    • mounded versus low-raised bed borders
    • drip irrigation versus restricted supplemental water

Quantifiable Measures

  • Economics or cost analysis of the varied aspects of blueberry growing including:
    •  soil preparation,
    • soil amendments, compost types, & fertilizers,
    • mulch,
    • equipment costs,
    • purchase of cultivars,
    • insecticides and predation control,
    • labor,
    • harvesting and marketing expenses, and
    •  income from produce sales.
  • Periodic measures of soil conditions (student measured values compared with results from professional soil testing laboratory at Virginia Tech) for values including:
    • soil respiration and infiltration
    • pH
    • content of major chemical elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
    • content of minor chemical elements: calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, iron, and boron.
    • quantity of humus
    • quantity of organic matter
  • During mid-summer determine annual foliar measures of nutrients and trace elements from mature leaves taken from various representative plants.
  • Determine early measures of plant health including:
    • growth (two direct measures of plant growth) via
      • Branch relative growth rate (RGR) of three selected representational primary branches labeled on a given plant that will be measured at least twice--once in early spring and then again in the fall prior to pruning--using the following formula: Branch RGR = (BLf-BLs / BLs) x 100 where
        • BL = branch length (cm)
        • s = spring measure
        • f = fall measure
      • Plant growth index (GI) where GI = plant height x width in row x width across row.  Minimally measured twice: spring and fall
    • plant physiology by measuring carbon dioxide assimilation (photosynthesis) and water transpiration (stomatal conductance) using infrared gas analysis (IRGA)
  • Determine ultimate measures of productivity via:
    • number of blooms per plant
    • marketable berry yields per plant
    • size of individual berries
    • berry flavor
  • Two other paired group comparisons
    • Impact of high hoop covered horticulture versus no hoops on plant health and berry production on organic plantings.
    • Impact of low raised beds versus rounded beds on plant health, weed & pest control, and productivity on organic plants.

 

Apr09_OrgBBPlots_southview

April 2009 Photograph of Organic Blueberry plots (south view) with rye planted on rows and grass middles between rows.

June09_OrgBB Rows_rowscultivatedwithcompost

June 2009 Photograph of Organic Blueberry plots.  Rows cultivated and compost added.

Plot Plans

  • Organic Blueberry Plot
Rw Ft
Lg		 Ft
Sq		 #
Plts		 Cul-
ti-
var		 Col
#1		 Col
#2		 Col
#3		 Col
#4		 Col
#5		 Col
#6		 Col
#7		 Col
#8		 Col
#9		 Col
#10		 Col
#11		 Col
#12		 Col
#13		 Col
#14
A 64 192 14 A A1:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A2:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A3:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A4:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A5:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A6:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A7:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A8:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 A9:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 A10:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 A11:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 A12:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 A13:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 A14:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed
B 64 192 14 B B1:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B2:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B3:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B4:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bedd		 B5:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B6:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B7:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B8:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 B9:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 B10:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 B11:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 B12:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 B13:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 B14:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed
C 60 180 13 C C1:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C2:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C3:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C4:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C5:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C6:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C7:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C8:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 C9:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 C10:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 C11:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 C12:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 C13:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed
D 58 174 13 D7/
E6		 D1:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D2:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D3:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D4:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D5:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D6:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D7:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D8:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Raised
Bed		 D9:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 D10:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 D11:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 D12:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed		 D13:
Horse
Manu
&Saw-
dust &
Round
Bed
E 58 174 13 A E1:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E2:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E3:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E4:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E5:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E6:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E7:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E8:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 E9:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 E10:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 E11:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 E12:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 E13:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed
F 54 162 12 B F1:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F2:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F3:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F4:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F5:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F6:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F7:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F8:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 F9:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 F10:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 F11:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 F12:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed
G 52 156 11 C G1:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G2:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G3:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G4:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G5:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G6:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G7:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G8:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 G9:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 G10:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 G11:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed
H 52 156 11 D6/
E5		 H1:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H2:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H3:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H4:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H5:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H6:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H7:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H8:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Raised
Bed		 H9:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 H10:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed		 H11:
Sheep
Manu
&Hay &
Round
Bed
I 52 156 11 A6/
B5		 I1:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I2:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I3:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I4:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I5:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I6:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I7:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I8:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I9:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I10:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 I11:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed
J 50 150 11 C6/
D5		 J1:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J2:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J3:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J4:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J5:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J6:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J7:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J8:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J9:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J10:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed		 J11:
Pine
Straw/
Bark &
Round
Bed
K 48 144 11 A6/
B5		 K1:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K2:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K3:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K4:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K5:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K6:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K7:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed1		 K8:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K9:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K10:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 K11:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed
L 43 129 10 C L1:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L2:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L3:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L4:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L5:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L6:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L7:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L8:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L9:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 L10:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed
M 31 93 7 D M1:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 M2:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 M3:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 M4:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 M5:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 M6:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 M7:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed
N 20 60 5 E N1:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 N2:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 N3:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 N4:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed		 N5:
Prof
Mulch
&
Round
Bed
T= 706 2118 156

Key

Soil
Amend-
ments		 Horse Manure
& Sawdust		 Sheep Manure
& Hat		 Pine Straw /
Pine bark chips		 Prof Mulch
Wenger
Mulch Hardwood
chips &
Sawdust		 Wheat
Straw		 Pine
Straw		 Prof Mulch
Wenger
         

 

 

Apr2009_TradBBPlots_fromNorth_withryecover

April 2009 Conventional Blueberry Plot (rows), not-organic with rye cover crop on rows (recently mowed) and grass middles between row.

LateJune2009_TradBBPlots_cultivatedwithcompost

April 2009, Conventional (not organic) blueberry plots cultivated with compost, soil amendments and grass middles

 

  • Conventional (non-organic) Blueberry Plot
Row
Lett		 Linear
Feet		 Square
Feet
3' wide		 #
Plants
4.5' ctrs		 Cultivar Col #1 Col #2 Col #3 Col #4 Col #5 Col #6
                     
A 12 6 3 Duke A1:Horse
 Manure&
Sawdust		 A2: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 A3:Horse
Manure&
Sawdust		      
B 20 60 5 Bluecrop B1:Horse
Manure&
 Sawdust		 B2:Horse
Manure&
Sawdust		 B3:Horse
Manure&
Sawdust		 B4: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 B5: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust
C 22 66 5 Jersey C1: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 C2: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 C3: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 C4: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 C5: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust
D 24 72 6 Chandler(3)
Bluegold(3)		 D1: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 D2: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 D3: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 D4: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 D5: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust		 D6: Horse
Manure &
Sawdust
Total 78 234 19              

Mouse Blueberry Consumption Pilot Study

January 2010 - May 2010

Objective: Assess the blueberry consumption characteristics of Swiss mice, monitor dietary changes, body and organ weight changes, and tissue uptake of anthocyanins.

Experimental Design

Place 30 day old Swiss mice in one of four treatment groups:

  • CON: Control. Give normal rodent chow and water free choice

  • JUA: Blueberry Juice only. Give normal rodent chow and 10% blueberry juice free choice; no water.

  • BBC: Blueberry choice.  Give normal rodent chow and water free choice and also provide supplemented whole blueberries free choice

  • JUC: Blueberry juice choice.  Give normal rodent chow and water free choice and also provide supplemented 10% blueberry juice free choice.

Maintain mice on diets for 40 days; monitor body weight changes, consumption of water, rodent chow, and blueberry juice or whole blueberries.

When mice are 70 days old, necropsy and remove serum, liver, and jejunum to assay for anthocyanin content. (Freeze samples.)  Weigh kidney, testis, seminal vesicle, epididymal fat, and testis.  Freeze testes for sperm quantification.

Results:

Under construction......

 

 

Established Blueberries

  • About 8 years ago (2000), we planted six blueberry plants for home use: 2 Coville, 2 Blueray, and 2 Jersy

Apr2009_Established Blueberries

  • April 2009, Established Blueberries in bloom

EstablishedBlueberries)June09

  • Late June 2009, Established Blueberries with berries