Young, newly planted blueberries are particularly sensitive to soil moisture stress. Highbush blueberries require a constant moisture supply.
A mature planting should receive about 1-3 in (2.5 – 5 cm) of water per week during the entire growing season, or at least through the harvest period. This requires about 600-1200 gal per 1000 sq ft (2280-4560 L per 93 sq ft).
To provide an adequate water supply to plants, it is important that:
*The soil root zone be large enough to supply the plant
*The soil water supply be replenished frequently enough to avoid water stress
*The water freely infiltrates the soil without leaching nutrients to depths below the root zone
*An effective water-absorbing root system is maintained throughout the plants life cycle
Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing blueberries. In crop production it is mainly used in dry areas and in periods of rainfall shortfall but also to protect plants against frost.
The percentage of plant survival through second year also increases from 50 to 83% with irrigation.
Irrigation is not commonly used in lowbush blueberry production. However the vegetative growth and yields can be increased by irrigation in years when soil moisture is low.
Blueberry irrigation
