Mycorrhizal Infection and Growth Response of Blueberry Cultivars to Soil Amendments

Abstract

Blueberries exhibit reduced efficiency in water and nutrient absorption due to the absence of root hairs, necessitating a more optimal soil cultivation environment, which significantly constrains their cultivation range. To investigate the effects of various soil conditioners on the growth and mycorrhizal colonization rates of blueberries, two varieties, ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Northland’ were tested in pots. The results indicated that the highest mycorrhizal colonization rate was observed in the control treatment comprising garden soil with 1 kg of sulfur powder (S), yielding rates of 42.58% and 38.40% for the respective varieties. The treatment containing moss + peat of the ‘Bluecrop’ variety resulted in the most substantial plant growth, with plant height and aboveground dry weight measuring 132.3% and 120.5% of the control values, respectively. Conversely, the treatment combining river sand and garden soil exhibited the lowest mycorrhizal colonization rate of the ‘Bluecrop’ variety at only 24.80% and 19.27% of the control, respectively. The results from the open field test further demonstrated that the highest mycorrhizal colonization rate was achieved with the addition of moss to the ‘Northland’ variety, reaching 222.2% of the control. Additionally, higher mycorrhizal colonization rates were recorded in treatments incorporating sawdust, moss, and grass peat, which were 206.3% and 165.1% of the control, respectively. Overall, the experimental findings underscore the significant impact of different soil amendment substances on the growth and mycorrhizal colonization rates of blueberries.