The effect of fertilization on the mineral composition of leaves and fruits of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in container cultivation
				Issue: 4/2025
Recevied: September 25, 2025
Accepted: October 21, 2025
Published: October 22, 2025
Authors:
P. Szot, D. Wach, A. Stankiewicz
Categories: Horticulture and forestry
DOI: 10.5601/jelem.2025.30.3.3660
Abstract:
The study were carried out in Agricultural Experimental Stadion in Felin belonging to University of Life Science in Lublin. The experimental material was 5-year-old plants of highbush blueberry cv. Bluecrop growing in a mixture of sphagnum peat, sand and finely ground pine bark (v/v: 2:1:1) in 35 dm3 containers. Two factors were taken into account in the experiment: A - form of nitrogen: 1. ammonium, 2. nitrate, 3. amide; B - fertilization level corresponding to the content in the substrate: 0, 100, 200, 400 mg N·dm-3. The fertilizers were used: ammonium sulphate (21% N-NH4, 24% S), magnesium nitrate (11% N-NO3, 9.5% Mg), urea (46% N), monopotassium phosphate (22.3% P, 28.2% K), potassium sulphate (44.8% K, 17.0% S) and magnesium sulphate (9.5% Mg, 12.7% S). In leaves and fruits, total nitrogen was determined using the Kjeldahl method on a Foss Tecator apparatus, phosphorus colorimetrically with ammonium vanadomolybdate (Thermo Evolution 300), potassium, magnesium and calcium, and [1]in leaves also manganese, iron, zinc and copper using the ASA method (Perkin-Elmer, AAnalyst 300).
The study found that the N-form had no effect on the content of nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves. The N-form had a significant effect on the content of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The tested fertilization levels influenced significantly on the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium, whose values increased in direct proportion to the mineral fertilizer doses, while the opposite relationship was observed for Ca. The macronutrient contents in leaves (except for N in the control) corresponded to optimal values for the limit values, indicating proper nutrition of the highbush blueberries in this experiment. The highbush blueberry leaves were characterized by optimal contents of Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu, with the exception of Fe and Cu in the control. The N form significantly influenced the content of Mn, Zn, and Cu, in addition to Fe.
 
					Citation:
JELEM / HARVARD
 
							Szot, P., Wach, D. and Stankiewicz, A. (2025) 'The effect of fertilization on the mineral composition of leaves and fruits of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in container cultivation', Journal of Elementology, 30(4), , available: https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.2025.30.3.3660
						MDPI
 
							Szot, P.; Wach, D.; Stankiewicz, A. The effect of fertilization on the mineral composition of leaves and fruits of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in container cultivation. J. Elem. 2025, 30, 4, . https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.2025.30.3.3660
						AMA
 
							Szot P, Wach D, Stankiewicz A. The effect of fertilization on the mineral composition of leaves and fruits of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in container cultivation. J. Elem. 2025;30(4):. https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.2025.30.3.3660
						CHICAGO
 
							Szot Paweł, Wach Dariusz, Stankiewicz Anna. 2025. "The effect of fertilization on the mineral composition of leaves and fruits of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in container cultivation" J. Elem. 30, no.4: . https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.2025.30.3.3660
						Keywords:
macronutrient, micronutrient, N-form, doses of fertilizer, Bluecrop
					About issue:
30.4.2025
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