Precision nutrient management in hydroponic blueberry under climatic stress

The growing global demand for blueberries, driven by their nutraceutical benefits, requires optimizing both yield and fruit quality-an increasingly complex goal under the influence of abiotic stress and intensifying climatic extremes. Non-linear nutrient accumulation curves and net daily absorption rates were developed for macro and microelements from biomass and tissue concentration data over 200 days after transplanting (DAT). Second-order polynomial models (R²ₐ d ⱼ ≥ 0.94) revealed dynamic uptake patterns, identifying critical windows of high demand and net physiological remobilization.

The first phase (60-90 DAT) exhibited maximum uptake of Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), and immobile micronutrients such as Iron (Fe) (0.13 mg plant⁻¹ day⁻¹), Zinc (Zn), and Manganese (Mn), essential for vegetative expansion. In contrast, Nitrogen (N) showed a distinctive decline in net absorption (-51.45 mg plant⁻¹ day⁻¹) between 90-120 DAT, indicating significant internal remobilization towards reproductive organs. The final stage (150-200 DAT) was dominated by intensive Potassium (K) uptake (54.76 mg plant⁻¹ day⁻¹) for fruit filling, while Ca and micronutrient absorption (particularly Boron [B] and Copper [Cu]) plateaued or declined, reflecting limited xylem transport under the high temperatures (>39 °C) and vapor pressure deficits recorded at the site. These absorption dynamics were strongly influenced by root-zone thermal stress, which reached a peak of 39 °C during the late stages, affecting the nutrient use efficiency and final fruit quality.

These results provide a quantitative foundation for designing fertilization strategies aligned with phenological development and aimed at enhancing nutrient use efficiency and fruit quality under tropical conditions.

Peñuelas Montoya, Francisco & López Bautista, Everardo & Ruiz-Martínez, Fortunato & Posos-Parra, Omar & Miranda-Valdez, Jaime. (2026). Precision nutrient management in hydroponic blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) under climatic stress: uptake dynamics and accumulation patterns. Notulae Scientia Biologicae. 18. www.doi.10.55779/nsb18112820

Source: Research Gate