Chemigation with Micronized Sulfur Rapidly Reduces Soil pH in a New Planting of Northern Highbush Blueberry

Summary

This field trial evaluated chemigation with micronized elemental sulfur as an alternative to conventional prilled sulfur incorporation for reducing soil pH in a new Northern highbush blueberry planting in western Oregon. Chemigation rapidly reduced soil pH within one month, achieving pH 5.8–6.1 at rates of 100–150 kg·ha⁻¹, but reductions were short-lived, with pH rebounding to 6.1–6.7 by the following May. Conventional prilled sulfur incorporation achieved more persistent pH reduction (pH 5.5 by July 2012 at 750 kg·ha⁻¹), suggesting chemigation alone may be insufficient for long-term soil acidification in this system.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted in western Oregon on a commercial blueberry farm and may have limited direct transferability to UK conditions, where blueberry cultivation is less established and soil chemistry and management practices differ. However, the methodology for chemigation-based soil pH management could be evaluated for UK horticulture where acid-loving crops (e.g. rhododendrons, azaleas) are grown on neutral or alkaline soils.

Key measures

Soil pH (0–10 cm depth) measured at multiple timepoints: within one month of first application, May of following year, and July 2012; sulfur application rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg·ha⁻¹ by chemigation; 750 kg·ha⁻¹ by conventional incorporation); treatment comparisons between chemigation and prilled sulfur incorporation methods

Outcomes reported

The study measured soil pH changes at multiple depths and timepoints following chemigation with micronized elemental sulfur at rates of 0–150 kg·ha⁻¹, compared with conventional prilled sulfur incorporation. Temporal pH dynamics were tracked to assess both rapid response and persistence of pH reduction in a newly established highbush blueberry planting.

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