Blueberries have become a very popular crop in recent years, gaining popularity thanks to the return on investment offered by this crop, which is in high demand worldwide due to its organoleptic and health-promoting properties. The immense market interest in this crop has made it a leader in terms of technology and genetic modifications.
The challenges of growing blueberries stem from the crop’s demands, its high sensitivity to water stress, low tolerance for Salinity, and the desired soil acidity levels. The initial investment will depend on the type of cultivation system established (soil-based or hydroponic), and the most significant variable is harvesting, since most varieties must be picked by hand.
Blueberries are native to North America and prefer cold climates, with certain varieties requiring up to 1,200 hours of cold weather. Thanks to advances in genetics, we now have varieties that adapt to milder conditions, begin bearing fruit earlier (we can harvest within 1 to 3 years), and start producing as early as May in the Northern Hemisphere, with the harvest period extending through November with proper management.
The varieties in demand always depend on the market; we must not forget that the Canadian market tends to favor wilder varieties that yield lower yields but have an extraordinary flavor for baking. Meanwhile, the European market prefers fresh fruit.
The varieties most in demand on the global market are Highbush:
Blueberries are native to cold climates, but today, we can find different varieties that require anywhere from 1,200 hours of chill to bloom—as in the United States and Canada—to varieties that need as few as 24 hours of chill to bloom, in warmer climates such as Mexico and the Mediterranean region (southern Spain and Morocco).
Blueberries prefer slightly acidic, well-aerated soil that is rich in organic matter and well-drained.
Blueberries can be planted either directly in the ground or in raised beds 15–20 cm high and 40–60 cm wide, with a planting spacing of 1.5 × 2.5 meters.
In soilless crops or hydroponic systems, the plants are grown in pots or bags ranging from 27 to 40 liters, using a mixture of peat and perlite with a pH of 4.5–5.5. In this type of cultivation, we can increase planting densities. Planting patterns would range from 0.5 × 2.5 meters for 9,000 plants per hectare to 0.5 × 2 meters for 10,000 plants per hectare.
Blueberries are extremely sensitive to water stress, with very specific water requirements depending on their phenological stage. We place special emphasis on water calculations for our new plantation during the flowering, fruit set, and fruit ripening stages.
Although micro-sprinklers and sprinkler irrigation are common practices for this crop—especially in regions of Peru and Chile—growers are now opting to switch to localized irrigation systems, whether for soil-based cultivation or hydroponics. We must bear in mind that this is a crop with a long shelf life, and we need to get the most out of it with minimal added costs and the resulting losses that inefficient irrigation can cause (fruit rot, flower drop, stem rot, etc.).
Currently, the most common method is row irrigation, using two lines of drip tubing—one on each side of the bed—preferably with self-compensating drippers to compensate for flow rate loss on farms with low-lying areas, ensuring that all our blueberries receive the correct and uniform flow rate.
For example, the AZUD PREMIER PC AS, with a flow rate of 1.6 to 2.3 L/h and a 33-cm spacing between drippers, or the CNL model, which not only regulates pressure but also prevents the dripline from emptying, ensuring uniformity from the very first second. Irrigation time will vary depending on the periods of peak water demand throughout the day.
Hydroponic blueberry cultivation is gaining popularity, especially in regions where blueberries are not native, such as Peru, Mexico, Morocco, and southern Spain.
Irrigation emitters play a key role in hydroponic irrigation, since the flow rates are regulated by pulses lasting 2 to 5 minutes. The dripper must be self-compensating and anti-drain (CNL) because this irrigation method requires a constant flow to all plants in the sector simultaneously. If the dripline empties every time irrigation stops, there will be no uniformity across all sectors.
Only PC CNL drippers offer these features, with a labyrinth large enough to prevent clogging and a rapid self-cleaning flow rate of 2–4 l/h.
Selecting Emitter Dripline: A wide range of options ensures the proper selection of dripline tubing. The combination of emitter model, flow rate per emitter, and spacing between emitters not only ensures the delivery of the water rates specified in the irrigation strategy but also guarantees a large volume of moist soil available for root development in both surface-level localized irrigation and RGS systems.
Digital Farming: Along with the proper selection of dripline tubing, the use of AZUD QGROW equipment for precise management of water and nutrient inputs—based on data from soil, plant, and weather sensors—enables:
Blueberries thrive with drip irrigation systems, as they efficiently deliver water directly to the roots, reducing waste and ensuring that the plant receives the necessary moisture without saturating the soil.
A proper irrigation system ensures that blueberries receive the exact amount of water they need, which is crucial for fruit development, disease prevention, and the prevention of water stress. This results in a more abundant harvest, higher-quality fruit, and a more efficient use of water resources.
Blueberries require acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. A pH outside this range can prevent the absorption of essential nutrients and negatively affect growth and fruit production. It is crucial to adjust the soil pH before planting and to monitor it regularly.
