The effect of organic cultivation practice on wild blueberry fruit yield and soil quality

Slack Farms Ltd.是第二代野生蓝莓种植者。目前，该农场拥有400英亩自己的 土地生产。农场还为其他蓝莓种植者做定制工作， 生产与其他野生蓝莓种植者一样，Slack Farms的产量也一直在下降 生产沿着伴随着其当前常规生产方法中的显著低效率。缺乏 与目前土壤施用化肥的化学效率，已迫使该公司进行调查交替 生产方法，如有机方法。这项研究是首次合作， 博士Yurgel（达尔豪西大学农学院）和Slack Farms有限公司。本研究的目标是 建立田间试验，对有机农业土壤改良剂的效果进行全面检测 对水果产量、土壤化学性质、细菌和真菌丰度和多样性的影响。的结果 研究结果将为野生蓝莓栽培实践的开展提供指导， 增加水果产量，改善土壤健康和肥力。Slack Farms将从以下方面获得直接的经济效益： 这项研究通过制定一项可持续生产战略，提高生产力和水果质量。 开发的实践可以适应其他野生蓝莓种植者在新斯科舍省和加拿大， 因此提供了环境效益并增加了野生蓝莓产业的竞争地位， 在加拿大

Slack Farms Ltd. is a second generation wild blueberry grower. Currently, the farm has 400 acres of its own land under production. The farm also does custom work for other blueberry farmers to assist with their production. As well as other wild blueberry growers, Slack Farms has been experiencing a decline in crop production along with significant inefficiencies in their current conventional production methods. The lack of efficiency with the current chemical soil applied fertilizer, has forced the company to investigate alternate production methods, such as organic approaches. The proposed research is the first time collaboration between Dr. Yurgel (Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture) and Slack Farms Ltd. The goal of this research is to establish field trials and perform comprehensive testing of the effect of organic agricultural soil ammendments on fruit yield, soil chemical properties, bacterial and fungal abundance and diversity. The results of this research will provide the guidance for the development of a wild blueberry cultivation practice, which increases fruit yield and improves soil health and fertility. Slack Farms will see a direct economic benefit from this research by developing a strategy for sustainable production with improved productivity and fruit quality. The developed practice can be adapted by other wild blueberry growers in Nova Scotia and Canada and will therefore provide an environmental benefit and increase the competitive position of the wild blueberry industry in Canada.