Highbush Blueberry
These guidelines are based on those developed by S. Schloemann & A.R. Bonanno, published in C.S. Hollingsworth & W.M. Coli (eds). 1999. Massachusetts Integrated Pest Management Guidelines: Crop Specific Definitions. University of Massachusetts Extension Publication IP-IPMA.
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Soil Nutrient Management and Cultural Practices
Cultural practices are of value in management of nutrients, weeds,
diseases, or insects. The goal of a sound fertility program is to supply
adequate nutrients with optimum timing for maximum economical crop yield,
while avoiding excesses that can degrade water quality or adversely affect
crop or soil quality.
- Irrigation is supplied to the bushes. 10 pts
- A water use plan that minimizes disease development, optimizes
water-use efficiency and minimizes erosion and runoff is used. (In most
cases, this means the use of a trickle irrigation system.) 5 pts OR - A fertigation system is installed and used for fertilizer delivery. 5 pts
- Fertilizer recommendations are based on leaf tissue analysis. 10 pts
- Half of nitrogen fertilizer (always use the ammonium form) is applied
at
bloom, and the remaining half is applied one month later (unless a slow
release form is used, in which case one May application of the full rate
is used). 5 pts - Soil pH levels are monitored using soil analysis every 5 years or
less, and
amendments applied to adjust pH to within 4.5 - 4.8. 10 pts - Regular pruning is conducted to maintain plant vigor, and to eliminate
dead,
diseased, and insect-infested wood. 5 pts - Prunings are removed from the field. 5 pts
- Mulch strip is maintained within the row. 10 pts
- Mulch is applied at a 3" - 4" depth in the mid-spring where
mummyberry is a
problem, providing a physical barrier to the development of fungal fruiting bodies
and interrupting the disease cycle. *5 pts - Mulch material is chosen to avoid tunneling of voles where voles are
a
problem (e.g. chipped brush instead of sawdust). *5 pts - In alleyways, a living ground cover is used to reduce soil erosion and soil compaction. 10 pts
- Ground cover species are selected to avoid habitat for Japanese
beetle grubs,
where they are a problem. *5 pts
Category Total 85 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Pesticides Application and Records
Only pesticides approved and registered for blueberry in the state are used. Records of pesticide applications are maintained, including date, field and block, target pest, crop stage pesticide name and EPA number, formulation, rate and number of acres treated. Pesticide drift is minimized. Re-entry and pre-harvest intervals are adhered to. Win-PST analysis is conducted for all pesticides considered for use on the farm.
- Pesticides with a LOW or VERY LOW environmental hazard (Win-PST) are used for one or more key pests 20 pts
- Insecticide/fungicide sprayer is calibrated at the start of the season 10 pts
- Herbicide sprayer is calibrated at the start of the season. 10 pts
- Spray records are maintained and organized. 10 pts
Category Total 30 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Disease Management
- Disease resistant cultivars are chosen when planting new sites. 10 pts
- Disease-free propagation wood is used 10 pts
- Disease problems are accurately identified and management strategies tailored to actual diseases present in the field in current season (i.e., not as prophylaxis unless history of the problem is well known). 10 pts
- Detailed records (including maps, if appropriate) are kept to document field history of diseases, weather information, and management strategies used and the results. (Note varietal differences.) 5 pts
- Mummyberry incidence and severity is documented and mapped (noting varietal differences) by determining number of strikes/bush for primary infection and percent infected fruit for secondary infections (10 complete bushes per acre are examined for strikes, 200 fruit on each of 10 bushes are examined for disease symptoms on fruit.). 10 pts
- One or more of the following strategies is used to suppress primary
infection of
mummyberry (where needed):- apply a thick layer (3-4") of organic mulch beneath bushes
to cover fallen
fruit in mid-spring. 5 pts OR - rake, disk, or cultivate soil beneath bushes in spring prior to
budbreak to
disrupt mummyberry spores. 5 pts OR - apply 200 lbs/A 50% urea prills beneath plants in spring prior
to budbreak
to `burn' mummyberry spores. 5 pts
- apply a thick layer (3-4") of organic mulch beneath bushes
to cover fallen
- Use good cultural practices to maintain plant vigor to reduce incidence
of
Phomopsis (especially avoidance of practices, such as late nitrogen applications,
which can lead to winter injury). 10 pts - Insects that vector viral and MLO diseases (e.g. aphids and leafhoppers)
are
controlled, if appropriate. *10 pts - Prune and destroy diseased wood when scouting. Clean pruning tools in bleach solution between cuts. 10 pts
- If witch's broom is identified in a field, infected plants are rouged out and alternate hosts (balsam fir) are eliminated within 1200 ft of the blueberry planting. Avoid planting blueberries near Christmas trees that include balsam fir.
Category Total 80 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Insect Management
- Insect problems are accurately identified and management strategies
tailored to
actual insect pests present in the field in current season (i.e., not as prophylaxis
unless history of the problem is well known). 10 pts - Detailed records (including maps, if appropriate) are kept to document
field history
of insect pests, management strategies used and the results. (Make a note of varietal differences.) 5 pts - Insecticides are not sprayed when bees are active (during bloom). 10 pts
- Blueberry maggot fly is monitored using sticky traps w/ lures (10/acre,
examined
weekly) and spray decisions are made according to the established action threshold of 1 fly/trap/week. 10 pts - Cranberry fruitworm is monitored using wing traps w/ lures (10/acre,
examined
weekly) and spray decisions are made according to peak trap captures. Application is made 7-10 days after peak trap capture. 10 pts - Other insect pests (e.g., leafrollers, gypsy moth, sawfly, Japanese
beetle) are
monitored by weekly observation of 5 fruit or leaf clusters on 4 shoots on each of
10 bushes per acre and noted on scouting forms. 10 pts
Category Total 55 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Weed Management
- A weed survey is conducted at least once per season with weed problems
noted
on field maps. 10 pts - Herbicide rate, selection and spot applications are based on the results
of the
weed survey. 10 pts - Herbicides of the same class are not applied in succeeding years in
order to avoid
herbicide resistance development. 10 pts - Herbicides are banded only in the crop row and a seeded groundcover is used in row middles. 10 pts
- Weeds in and around fields, alleys and roadways are prevented from going to seed. 10 pts
Category Total 35 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Vertebrate Management
- Bird depredation is managed with the use of netting or a combination
of scare devices (visual, audio, and taste). *15 pts - Deer depredation is managed with the use of fencing or repellent products
(odor or taste). *10 pts - Rodent (esp. vole) depredation is managed by first, determining the
species
present in the field, and using cultural (e.g., mulch that doesn't facilitate tunneling
and/or repeated disruption of tunnels) methods, and then following with chemical
methods if needed. *10 pts
Category Total 35 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Education
- Manager attends one or more state/regional/national berry management workshops or conferences during the current year. 5 pts
- Manager has a current copy of Northeast Small Fruit Pest Management Guide. 5 pts
- Manager has current membership in New England Vegetable and Berry
Growers Association. 5 pts
Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Grand Total 285 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %
Acknowledgment
The authors recognize the importance of the New York IPM Program Elements for Blueberries by J. Kovach, in the development of these guidelines, and thanks G. Pavilis, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, for his assistance.
