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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183745
Title: USE OF CALCIUM FOLIAR FEED FERTILIZATION TO REDUCE RAIN-RELATED SPLITTING IN RABBITEYE AND SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY

Author
item Shaw, Donna
item Spiers, James
item CURRY, KENNETH - USM

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2005
Publication Date: 7/10/2005
Citation: Marshall, D.A., Spiers, J.M., Curry, K. 2005. Use of calcium foliar feed fertilization to reduce rain-related splitting in rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberry. Hortscience 40:1059.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Calcium is commonly known to affect the developmental processes of many plants, and its role as a major nutrient has been interpreted in terms of its interaction with components of the cell wall and membrane. A two-year study was conducted to assess the affects of calcium foliar feed fertilization applied at bloom and throughout floral development on the reduction of rain related splitting in blueberries. Foliar applied calcium at 0.2% or 0.9% concentration did not successfully decrease splitting in blueberries to a statistical and more importantly, an economically significant level. Calcium sprays also had no adverse affects on the fruit firmness, quality or calcium concentrations within the fruit.