1. Caneberry Tissue Analysis Monitoring Nutritional Status in New Cultivars Small Fruit Agent Training August 4 and 5, 2009

2. Topics of Importance Cane berries background Tissue samples How to collect How to submit Understanding the Report New Developments Baseline K Fertilization

3. Blackberry Acreage in NC 1999: < 100 acres 2002: about 150 acres 2006: SunnyRidge Farm, Inc., indicated desire to expand production by 5-700 A Blackberry and raspberry 2009: about 400 acres Future growth still expected

4. Blackberries – Yum!!!

5. Blackberry (Rubus) Erect, semi-erect, trailing, semi-trailing Perennial root Biennial shoots called CANES Primocane is vegetative; 1 st year growth (no flowers or fruit) Floricane is reproductive; 2 nd year growth flowers, fruits then dies and is pruned out

6. New a picture of cane types

7. New Cultivars Erect and semi-erect Thornless Different harvest times Navaho, Ouachita (others include Apache, Chester, Hull, Triple Crown, Arapaho, Chickasaw, Kiowa & Choctaw) Cultivars suited to NC are currently being developed.

8. Cultivar Characteristics Navaho Erect Univ. Arkansas Thornless Mid-late season Med-high yield Great postharvest shelf life (PHSL) Ouachita Erect Univ. Arkansas Thornless High yields Big berries, great flavor Good PHSL

9. New Fertilization Practices Currently, growers are more likely to spoon-feed soluble fertilizer through drip tape in addition to broadcasting or banding fertilizer.

10. Current Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations For mature blackberries: 60–80 lb N Spring: drip a total of 50 lb N  15 lb N March 1  10 lb N March 15, April 1, and April 15  5 lb N early May Post harvest: apply remainder of N Fall: no nitrogen; lime and non- nitrogenous fertilizers as needed

11. Lime & Fertilizer Lime to pH 6.0 Pre-plant Apply P 2 O 5 and K 2 0 according to soil test Post-plant P 2 O 5 and K 2 0

12. Sufficiency Ranges from Clark NABGA (1997) Developed for newer cultivars Collected from the primocane in August (post harvest) 30–60 most recently mature leaves Nitrogen 2.4–2.9% Phosphorus >0.15% Potassium 1.0–2.0% Calcium >0.5% Magnesium >0.3% Sulfur >0.13% Iron>50 ppm Manganese>50 ppm Zinc>20 ppm Copper>7 ppm Boron30–50 ppm

13. Growers want big, sweet, berries with great shelf life Tissue analysis is a tool that will help accomplish this

14. How to use Plant Tissue Analysis? Fine tune fertilization program by monitoring plant nutrient uptake Diagnose a problem; include a healthy and unhealthy plant sample and soil samples from the healthy and unhealthy area Corrective action consider climatic conditions, yield potential, fertilization history, disease/insect pressure, even economic return

15. Sample Type Predictive – monitor nutritional status Diagnostic – verify if problems are related to poor nutritional status

16. Tissue Samples What The most recent matured leaves from the primocanes How Many 25-30 leaves Special Considerations Paper bags; get them to the lab quickly When Any time you suspect a nutritional problem (diagnostic) Post harvest (predictive)

17. 1 2 3 4 5

19. Sample ID Crop Name (and Variety) Growth Stage Plant Part Corresponding Samples Plant Appearance Other Tests

20. Growth Stages Early (E): pre bloom Bloom (B): full bloom Fruit (F): ripe or harvesting fruit Mature (M): 2 weeks post harvest

21. Sample ID Crop Name (and Variety) Growth Stage Plant Part Corresponding Samples Plant Appearance Other Tests S B F M E M U Early: pre bloom Bloom: full bloom Fruit: ripe or harvesting fruit Mature: 1-2 weeks post harvest

22. Indicate Corresponding samples here

23. Indicate Plant Appearance here Interveinal yellowing in top

24. There are no extra tests that we recommend for caneberries Interveinal yellowing in top

25. http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/uplant.pdf

26. –Header –Sample Information –Results (chemical analysis –Interpretation Indices –Recommendations

27. Report Header Information Date report completed and printed Division name, ph # and web addressReport # Grower (client) Name And Address Farm ID (if needed) County where sample Was collected

28. Laboratory Results For Cane berries Concentrations for 11 essential plant nutrients plus sodium Macro nutrients (N P K Ca Mg S) in percent (%) Micro nutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn Cu, B) in ppm

29. Interpretation Indices Converts a nutrient concentration into an index value Desired index ranges from 50-74 Below 50 index reduced growth yield Above 74 index excess use of fertilizer and potential toxicity

31. Range (min/max) of Nutrient Concentrations in the Post Harvest Primocane Samples Nutrient% concentration (baseline study) Nitrogen2.0-3.3 Phosphorus0.13 – 0.26 Potassium0.5 – 1.3 Calcium0.3 – 1.0 Magnesium0.25 – 0.50 Sulfur0.13 – 0.20

32. Average Nutrient Concentrations in the Post Harvest Primocane Samples Nutrient% concentration (baseline study) % concentration (Clark, U. Ark, 1997) Nitrogen2.4 – 2.9 Phosphorus0.17 – 0.18>0.15 Potassium0.77 – 0.841.0 – 2.0 Calcium0.51 – 0.68>0.5 Magnesium0.30 – 0.38>0.3 Sulfur0.15 – 0.15>0.13

33. BASELINE STUDY Monitor nutrient concentrations in the primocane at M (postharvest) to determine needs for the next season and in the E (early), B (bloom), F (fruit) to aid in diagnosis of nutritional problems Cooperators: Steve Dillon, Ben Knox, Charles Mitchell, Fred Smith all with NCDA&CS Gina Fernandez, Ron Gehl, Wayne Mitchem with NCSU Josh Beam with Sunny Ridge Commercial Growers and 3 Research Stations

34. Questions Brenda R. Cleveland NCDA&CS Agronomic Division Plant Waste Solution and Media Section 919.733.2655 Brenda.Cleveland@ncagr.gov www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/