Soil adequation with organo-mineral substrates designed from wastes for Blueberry

Resumo

Perú is the world greatest exporter of blueberry, crop that needs acid soil pH and high content of organic matter. The later is obtained from forest topsoil or peat (from north of Europe), unsustainable fact. This study shows a friendly environmental and sustainable alternative, organo-mineral substrates made by wastes (“Agrotec”). Four treatments [Control (C), Chicken manure (CM), Agrotec A (AA) and Agrote B (AB)] were used for basal dressing, where 6 months age blueberry plants were planted.  It was followed a completely randomize block experimental design monitoring either edaphic and plant physiology parameters for ~9 months. Soil results showed how CM supply a high —but punctual— dose of nutrients and organic matter. Contrarily, designed substrates Agrotec A and B released nutrients gradually because were previously stabilized, which triggered a slow mineralization within soil. Thus, soil parameters under CM application showed an unstable behaviour respect to AA and AB. Physiological results showed a fruit yield increase with AA a AB (100 and 44%) compared to CM. Even though they are preliminary results in field conditions, It seems that designed substrates are efficient along the time and a sustainable alternative for blueberry soil adequation.