THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS (VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM L.) ON THE SANDY SOILS FROM SOUTH-WEST OF ROMANIA

Abstract

The highbush blueberry was introduced to Romania by Prof. Nicolae Stefan in 1968. The first plantations were concentrated in the area of the hilly hills, so in the 80s years the cultivated area in Romania amounted to approximately 300 ha, but in the 90s years it decreased to only 60 ha. With the beginning of the new National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, and allocation of European funds for the fruit growing, the blueberry crop became even better.  In the present in Romania are about 1000 ha with blueberry orchard distributed in the mountain and hilly areas. Starting from 2019, at Dăbuleni Research & Development Station for Plant Cultivation on Sandy Soils, on a soil with a pH of 6.36, studies began on the behaviour of high bush blueberry in the plain area. An experimental plot with the Duke, Nelson and Patriot cultivars was established; the plants were planted on raised beds covered with polypropylene mulch fabric (Agrotextile). Drip irrigation was provided under the mulch. Following the studies carried out in the 2020-2022 period, the Patriot cultivar stood out with an average fruit weight of 2.65 g/fruit and a production in the 4th year after planting by the 3.2 t/ha. The Duke variety recorded the highest value of fruit vitamin C content (13.11 mg) versus to the other studied cultivars.