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Abstract
The response of rabbiteye blueberry plants (Vaccinium ashei Reade) to rates and modifications of deep well water (pH 8.7) containing 0.695 dS·m-1 electrical conductivity (EC), a sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of 29.7, and a bicarbonate concentration of 7.89 meq·liter-1 was compared to plants irrigated with rain and surface waters applied to 3 soils in a glasshouse-container study. Fresh weight increase and root fresh and dry weight were greater on plants irrigated with rainwater or pond water compared to plants irrigated with different rates of deep well water, or deep well water modified by the addition of gypsum or acidified with H2S04. Fresh weight increase, root fresh and dry weight, leaf fresh weight, and top:root ratios were higher on a loamy sand soil than on sandy loam or clay loam soils. Plant weight gain was positively correated with the percentage of sand, and negatively correlated with the percentage of clay and saturation-extract SAR. An increase in soil pH resulted from irrigation with deep well water which, along with its modifications, resulted in increased leaf Na and decreased leaf Ca and Mn, compared to rain or surface-water irrigations, which slightly lowered soil pH.