Influence of Mulching Systems on Yield and Quality of Southern Highbush Blueberries

The effects of four mulching systems (pine bark, black woven fabric, black plastic, white-over-black plastic) on plant growth yield and fruit quality of five southern highbush blueberry clones were studied. Plant growth and fruit yields of plants grown on pine bark or white-over-black plastic were not different and were significantly higher than growth and yield of plants grown on the black mulches. The mulching systems did not significantly affect berry weight, soluble solids, titratable acidity, soluble solids/acid ratio, an-thocyanins, skin firmness or subjective quality after three weeks of refrigerated storage. There were significant effects of clone on each of these parameters.