EFFECT OF MULCHING ON GROWTH AND FRUITING OF CULTIVATED LINGONBERRIES (VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA L.) AND BOGBLUEBERRIES (V. ULIGINOSUM L.)

Investigations were carried out in sandy soil, with 6 kg/m² of low pine-sedge peat applied before planting. Planting material was prepared in natural undergrowth. Mulching materials used were: peat, sawdust, chopped straw and sand.

In mulched plots the number of rhizome shoots of lingonberries was observed to increase by 2–3 times when compared with the control, their phytomass by 29–61%, berry size by 10–15% and yield by 143–316%. Flowers suffered less from frosts. Length of bogblueberry sprouts increased by 15–28%, leaf size by 12–24%, berry size by 9–14% and yield by 60–110%. The major effect was obtained when lingonberries were mulched with peat and bogblueberries with peat and straw. Increased growth of lingonberries in mulched fields was determined mostly by qualitative changes in soil.