Effect of woodchips mulch on performance of eight blackcurrant cultivars

Blackcurrant is one of the main berry crops grown in Latvia. Local climatic conditions and market demands require an accurate choice of well-adapted cultivars and improving of growing technologies in order to obtain higher yield and reduce production costs. This study presents the evaluation results of eight blackcurrant cultivars: ‘Bagira’, ‘Ben Connan’, ‘Ben Tirran’, ‘Chereshneva’, ‘Lentyai’, ‘Mara Eglite’, ‘Veloi’ and Titania’ in two growing practices – with application of woodchips mulch (using increased N fertilization rate) and without mulching. The trial was established in 2010 at Pūre Horticultural Research Centre, Latvia. Plant vegetative growth, phenological parameters, winter hardiness, yield, fruit quality, incidence of pests and diseases were evaluated during 2012-2016. All evaluated cultivars showed good adaptability for growing in local conditions. Mulching of soil with woodchips did not influence blackcurrant phenological development, productivity, fruit size and damage severity by pests, whereas it reduced weeds growth and leaf spot disease severity.