Effects of agrotextile mulch on the performance of different blackcurrant cultivars

Mulching is a cultivation technique that can affect plant growth and is widely used in berry growing. The effect of mulching depends on mulch type and the response may vary among cultivars. The current study presents results of six blackcurrant cultivars (‘Charodey’, ‘Strelec’, ‘Barmaley’, ‘Ruben’, ‘Ores’, and ‘Zagadka’) evaluated with polypropylene woven ground cover (agrotextile) and without mulch. The trial was established in 2018 at the Institute of Horticulture (LatHort), Latvia. Blackcurrants were planted with a distance of 1.0×3.5 m. The rows were covered with black agrotextile mulch before plant establishment. No irrigation was applied. Plant vegetative growth, phenological parameters, winter hardiness, yield, fruit quality, resistance to pests and diseases, and weed incidence were evaluated in 2019 to 2022. Mulching of soil with agrotextile did not influence the blossoming and ripening time, yet it promoted the annual bush growth. In addition, mulching reduced weed growth. Mulching had no effect on blackcurrant resistance to diseases, fruit size, and productivity, but it reduced clearwing moth damage. ‘Ruben’ had the highest yield and the largest fruits among the evaluated cultivars.