Non-Native Blueberries Ideal for Reclaiming Peatlands
A doctoral thesis by Tairi Albert of the University of Life Sciences found that North American blueberry species could be well used for reclaiming cutover peatlands where acidity makes cultivation of other food plants impossible.
Until now, there were no reliable mulching and fertilization guidelines for cultivating blueberries on cutover peatlands. Blueberries need less nutrients than other crops, so they require far less fertilizing. They also benefit a lot from the right mulching.
According to data from the Agricultural Registers and Information Board, more than 66 hectares of blueberries were planted in Estonia in 2005, with the average field size of 0.8 hectares. The industry is already growing, but is said to have a lot more potential in light of the latest research.
The university's Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is now focusing on organic blueberry farming options and ways for growing crops that contain the most beneficial nutrients.
