Evaluation of nitrate/ammonium ratios and substrate mixtures in the hardening phase of blueberry cultivation, variety Biloxi (Vaccinium corymbosum), under greenhouse conditions
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This research evaluated how different forms of nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) and substrate mixtures (peat and rice husk) influence blueberry growth during its hardening-off phase in a greenhouse, with the aim of identifying the most efficient option for producing higher-quality plants. The results showed that the optimal combination was the nutrient solution with a predominance of ammonium (75%) together with a substrate with a high peat content (80%), which generated plants with greater height, greater stem thickness and up to double the biomass compared with other mixtures. The study concludes that this synergy between ammonium and peat produces more vigorous plants of better overall quality, further confirming that the Dickson Quality Index is the best indicator for evaluating the seedlings, thus offering clear technical recommendations for optimizing blueberry production under controlled conditions.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The authors who publish in Siembra know and accept the following conditions:
- Authors retain the copyright and grant Siembra the right of first publication of the work, under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Third parties are allowed to use what has been published as long as they refer to the author or authors of the work and its publication in this journal.
This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
- Authors maintain the copyright and guarantee Siembra the right to publish the manuscript through the channels it considers appropriate.
- Authors may establish on their own additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in Siembra, acknowledging their initial publication in the same, such as in institutional repositories.
- Authors are authorized to disseminate their work electronically once the manuscript is accepted for publication.
References
Anwar, A., Zheng, J., Chen, C., Chen, M., Xue, Y., Wang, J., Su, W., Chen, R., y Song, S. (2024). Effects of NH4+-N: NO3−-N ratio on growth, nutrient uptake and production of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) under soilless culture. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1438811
Arias, M. I., Nario, A., Rojas, K., Blanc, P., y Bonomelli, C. (2024). Newly Established Blueberry Plants: The Role of Inorganic Nitrogen Forms in Nitrogen and Calcium Absorption. Horticulturae, 10(11), 1168. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111168
Balzarini, M.G., Gonzalez, L., Tablada, M., Casanoves, F., Di Rienzo, J.A., y Robledo, C.W. (2008). Infostat. Manual del Usuario. Editorial Brujas.
Bignami, C., Melegari, F., Zaccardelli, M., Pane, C., y Ronga, D. (2022). Composted solid digestate and vineyard winter prunings partially replace peat in growing substrates for micropropagated Highbush Blueberry in the Nursery. Agronomy, 12(2), 337. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020337
Bowerman, J. R. (2012). Propagation of Vaccinium arboreum by stem cuttings for use as a rootstock for commercial blueberry production. Auburn University. https://etd.auburn.edu/handle/10415/3037
Bryla, D. R., Machado, R. M. A., Leon-Chang, D. P., y Orr, S. T. (2025). Fertigation with nitrogen and other nutrients in northern highbush blueberry. Acta Horticulturae, (1440), 513–520. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1440.70
Cárdenas-Navarro, R., Luna-Béjar, J. A., Castellanos-Morales, V. del C., Bravo-Hernández, N. L., y López-Pérez, L. (2024). Effect of the concentration and ionic form of nitrogen (N) on photosynthesis, growth and fruit production of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Biotecnia, 26, e2325. https://doi.org/10.18633/biotecnia.v26.2325
Cárdenas-Navarro, R., Torres-Huerta, D., Bravo-Hernández, N. L., y López-Pérez, L. (2025). Optimizing Ammonium Concentration in the Irrigation Solution of Pot-Grown Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Plants for Yield and Quality. Revista Terra Latinoamericana, 43, e2103. https://doi.org/10.28940/terralatinoamericana.v43i.2103
Coyne, M. S., y Thompson, J. A. (2006). Math for soil scientists. Thomson/Delmar Learning.
Cruzatty, L. C. G., y Vollmann, J. E. S. (2012). Caracterización de suelos a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal en Ecuador. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias - Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 7(3), 456–464. https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v7i3a1736
De la Peña, M., Marín-Peña, A. J., Urmeneta, L., Coleto, I., Castillo-González, J., van Liempd, S. M., Falcón-Pérez, J. M., Álvarez-Fernández, A., González-Moro, M. B., y Marino, D. (2022). Ammonium nutrition interacts with iron homeostasis in Brachypodium distachyon. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73(1), 263–274. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erab427
Espinoza-Orozco, L. E., Peralta-Manjarrez, R. M., Cabrera-De la Fuente, M., Benavides-Mendoza, A., Sandoval-Rangel, A., y Olivares-Sáenz, E. (2025). Optimización de las proporciones de nitrógeno para arándanos cultivados bajo medio salino. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas, 16(8), e4138. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v16i8.4138
Fall Creek Farm & Nursery. (2026). Fall Creek®. http://www.fallcreeknursery.com
Gordó, M. (2008). Guía práctica para el cultivo de arándanos en la zona norte de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria [INTA], EEA San Pedro.
Gurrola Nieblas, J. E. (2020). Respuesta del arándano (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) a la fertilización de amonio y nitrato en hidroponía con raíces separadas. Colegio de Postgraduados. http://hdl.handle.net/10521/4345
Jones, A., Naroju, S. P., Nandwani, D., Witcher, A., y Chowdhury, S. (2025). Sustainable substrate strategies for urban vertical farming: A case study on organic leafy greens. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems, 10(1), e70034. https://doi.org/10.1002/uar2.70034
Langenfeld, N. J. y Bugbee, B. (2025). Adding ammonium through automated pH control in zero-discharge liquid hydroponics to maintain low, steady-state concentrations. HortScience, 60(9), 1555–1560. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18771-25
Mesa Torres, P. A. (2015). Algunos aspectos de la fenología, el crecimiento y la producción de dos cultivares de arándano (Vaccinium corymbosum L. x V. darowii) plantados en Guasca (Cundinamarca, Colombia). Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. https://hdl.handle.net/10654/6675
Mollericona Alfaro, M. D., y Calle Laime, E. E. (2021). Evaluación morfométrica de plantines de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) y palta (Persiana americana Mill) en fase de vivero, Estación Experimental Sapecho. Apthapi, 7(3), 2229–2235. https://apthapi.umsa.bo/index.php/ATP/article/view/109
Morales Alcayaga, C. G. (Ed.). (2017). Manual de manejo agronómico del arándano (Boletín INIA N.º 371). Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias [INIA]. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14001/6673
Mshweshwe, A., Mfeka, N., Lewu, F. B., y Tanga, M. (2025). Blueberry cultivation under different nitrogen sources: A review. Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development, 9(1), e293. https://doi.org/10.4102/JOMPED.v9i1.293
Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura [FAO]. (2025). FAOSTAT: Cultivos y productos de ganadería [Arándano, año 2024]. https://www.fao.org/faostat/es/#data/QCL
Ortiz-Delvasto, N., Garcia-Ibañez, P., Olmos-Ruiz, R., Bárzana, G., y Carvajal, M. (2023). Substrate composition affects growth and physiological parameters of blueberry. Scientia Horticulturae, 308, 111528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111528
Osorio, R., Cáceres, C., y Covarrubias, J. I. (2020). Vegetative and physiological responses of “emerald” blueberry to ammoniacal sources with a nitrification inhibitor. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 20(2), 507–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-00135-7
Osorio-Espinoza, H., Marroquín-Agreda, F. J., Falcón-Oconor, E., Toledo-Toledo, E., Barrera-Rodríguez, E., y Lerma-Molina, J. N. (2025). Organic substrates improve the quality of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. under nursery conditions. Agro Productividad, 18(8), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.32854/mdw8pb92
Peñuelas Montoya, F., Sánchez Portillo, J. F., Ruiz Martínez, F., y Fuentes Verduzco, C. (2024). Morfología de la planta de arándano Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. “Biloxi” bajo mallas fotoselectivas en Sinaloa, México. Temas Agrarios, 29(2), 151–170. https://doi.org/10.21897/ynpsv266
Retamales, J. B., Palma, M. J., Morales, Y. A., Lobos, G. A., Moggia, C. E., y Mena, C. A. (2014). Blueberry production in Chile: current status and future developments. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 36(1), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-2945-446/13
Rivière, L.-M., y Caron, J. (2001). Research on substrates: State of the art and need for the coming 10 years. Acta Horticulturae, (548), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.548.1
Rojas Mego, K.C. (2024). Efecto de la forma (NH₄⁺ o NO₃⁻) y momento de aplicación de fertilizantes nitrogenados en el establecimiento de arándano Vaccinium corymbosum L. en macetas en el Sur de Chile. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. https://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/86844
Schafer, G., y Lerner, B. L. (2022). Physical and chemical characteristics and analysis of plant substrate. Ornamental Horticulture, 28(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536x.v28i2.2496
Spiers, J. M., Stringer, S. J., Draper, A. D., y Gupton, C. L. (2002). “Biloxi” southern highbush blueberry. Acta Horticulturae, (574), 153–155. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.574.21
Tamir, G., Afik, G., Zilkah, S., Dai, N., y Bar-Tal, A. (2021). The use of increasing proportions of N-NH₄⁺ among the total applied inorganic N to improve acidification and the nutritional status and performance of blueberry plants in soilless culture. Scientia Horticulturae, 276, 109754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109754
Tamir, G., Ziv, E., Bar-Tal, A., y Dai, N. (2025). Combined effects of N-NH4 level and a nitrification inhibitor on the performance of blueberry in high and low pH-buffer media. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 25(2), 3391–3405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02341-y
Undurraga Díaz, P., y Vargas Schüldes, S. (2013). Manual del arándano. Chillán, Chile: Boletín INIA, N° 263. Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias [INIA], Centro Regional de Investigación Quilamapu. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14001/7627
Vásquez-Castillo, W., Serrano-Ibarra, A., Escobar, S., Moncayo, P., y Meléndez-Jácome, M. R. (2026). Agro-morphological and physicochemical evaluation of blueberry varieties (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in the Ecuadorian Andes. Agronomy, 16(13), 1288. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16131288
Xu, J., Fang, Y., Tavakkoli, E., Pan, X., Liao, F., Chen, W., y Guo, W. (2021). Preferential ammonium: nitrate ratio of blueberry is regulated by nitrogen transport and reduction systems. Scientia Horticulturae, 288, 110345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110345
Yang, H., Wu, Y., Zhang, C., Lyu, L., Wu, W., Huang, Z., y Li, W. (2025). Growth and Physiological Traits of Blueberry Seedlings in Response to Different Nitrogen Forms. Plants, 14(10), 1444. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101444
Yuan-Yuan, Z., Jun-Ping, T., Jun, C., Yu-Hui, H., y Yu-Shi, L. (2021). Effects of different NH 4 + /NO 3 - ratios on the photosynthetic and physiology responses of blueberry ( Vaccinium spp.) seedlings growth. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 44(6), 854–864. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2021.1871754
Zhang, C., Luo, J.-J., Zuo, J.-B., Zhang, Z., Wang, S.-T., Zhang, X.-J., Fu, T.-S., y Feng, Y.-L. (2022). Transcripts related with ammonium use and effects of gibberellin on expressions of the transcripts responding to ammonium in two invasive and native Xanthium species. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1035137