4. Levelling Land for Wild Blueberry Fields

Wild Blueberry
Production Guide...
in a Context of
Sustainable Development
4. Levelling Land for Wild Blueberry Fields
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of levelling the land is to minimize irregularities that could prevent machinery from following the contours
of the terrain in a uniform manner. Because levelling makes such an important contribution to the mechanization of
harvesting, it is increasingly common in the development of blueberry fields.
Existing conditions in the terrain, such as the presence of knolls and hollows, scarred or rutted ground, and holes left by
the removal of stumps and rocks, can reduce the efficiency of agricultural operations. Modifications to the terrain then
become a necessity.
Levelling is a delicate operation in the development of a blueberry field because it is crucial to avoid damaging the blueberry
rhizomes. Under no circumstances should one attempt to flatten the field completely. The operation should be carried out
with a real effort to minimize the negative impact on soil structure, percentage of field cover and density of blueberry
plants. Overly aggressive levelling can result in reduced yield and the creation of bare spots.
OBJECTIVES OF LEVELLING
Levelling is done to make the following improvements to the site:
• facilitate work with farm machinery and minimize mechanical breakdowns;
• increase the working speed of agricultural operations;
• obtain more uniform spreading of fertilizer and pesticides;
• facilitate pruning and harvesting.
POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN LEVELLING
Land levelling should always be done with an eye toward sustainable development. In this perspective, the following
elements should be considered:
• ideally, levelling should be done in the development phase, when the soil is loose and easy to work. A more effective
alteration of the terrain will be obtained;
• prior to levelling, the blueberry plants should be pruned in order to render irregularities in the terrain more apparent
and to limit damage to rhizomes, which should not be left exposed;
• levelling should be done during the period of dormancy, i.e. after the first autumn frosts or before the plants resume
growth in the spring;
• avoid spacing the work out over several years, since doing so stresses the plants and will reduce productivity;
• avoid levelling during periods of drought. When the moisture level of the soil is very low, levelling can lead to
excessive drying of disturbed areas, damaging the rhizomes;
• when levelling must be performed in a producing blueberry field, every effort should be taken to reduce the negative
impact on established plants;
• if erosion zones are created during levelling, they should be covered with a mulch.
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4. Levelling Land for Wild Blueberry Fields
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Removing rocks and stumps
The following machinery is recommended:
• farm tractor equipped with a bucket;
• wheeled backhoe;
• wheeled or tracked excavator.
Levelling the terrain
The following equipment is recommended:
• forest shredder;
• scraper;
• any other appropriate equipment.
The following equipment should be avoided:
• roller;
• rototiller;
• H-beam.
CONCLUSION
It is important to bear in mind that the purpose of levelling is to facilitate the mechanization of agricultural operations
while causing minimal damage to the wild blueberry plants. The most common mistakes are not due to choice of equipment
but rather to inappropriate use of that equipment. Excessive levelling or the use of overly heavy equipment can cause
extensive damage and have impacts that will be felt for many years.
Wild Blueberry Production Guide
2
4. Levelling Land for Wild Blueberry Fields
COMPLEMENTARY LEAFLET
10. Using Mulches in Wild Blueberry Fields
TEXT ADAPTED FROM
Chiasson, G. and J. Argall. 1995. Levelling Land in Wild Blueberry Fields. Factsheet A.7.0.
New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. [Online].
http://www.gnb.ca/0171/10/0171100006-e.asp (Page consulted on September 15, 2010).
OTHER REFERENCE USED
King, A.S.W. 2000. Evaluating Land for Wild Blueberry Potential. Lowbush Blueberry Factsheet. Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry
Institute. Truro, Nova Scotia. 4 pp. [Online]. http://nsac.ca/wildblue/facts/land_potential.pdf (Page consulted on
September 15, 2010).
PROJECT COORDINATION
PUBLISHING
Sophie Gagnon, Agronomist,
Coordinator, Agrinova, Alma
Project
Chantale Ferland, M.Sc., Publishing Project Officer, CRAAQ,
Québec
Management
Lyne Lauzon, Publications Coordinator, CRAAQ, Québec
ADAPTATION
COORDINATION
DU PROJET
Véronique Moreau,
Agronomist, Coordinator, Club Conseil
ÉDITION
TRANSLATION
Chantale Ferland, M.Sc., chargée de projets aux publications,
Sophie
Gagnon, agronome, coordonnatrice en gestion de
Bleuet, Dolbeau-Mistassini
projet, Agrinova, Alma
Rod Willmot, M.A.
CRAAQ, Québec
Co-adaptation
Gérald Savard,
RÉDACTION
Lyne
coordonnatrice
LAYOUTLauzon,
AND GRAPHIC
DESIGN des publications, CRAAQ,
Québec
Sylvie Robitaille, Computer Graphics Technician, CRAAQ,
Québec
Technician, Consultant, Club Conseil
Bleuet,
Dolbeau-Mistassini
Marie-Eve Moreau, agronome, conseillère, Club Conseil
Bleuet, Dolbeau-Mistassini
MISE EN PAGE ET CONCEPTION GRAPHIQUE
COLLABORATION
Véronique
Moreau, agronome, coordonnatrice, Club
Conseil
Bleuet,
Dolbeau-Mistassini
Marie-Eve
Moreau,
Agronomist, Consultant, Club Conseil
Bleuet, Dolbeau-Mistassini
Sylvie Robitaille, technicienne en infographie, CRAAQ,
Québec
RÉVISION
REVISION Chiasson,
Gaétan
agronome, agent de développement,
ministère
de l’Agriculture
et de in
l’Aquaculture
duAgriculture
NouveauJean Lafond,
M.Sc., Researcher
Soil Fertility,
Brunswick,
Bathurst
and Agri-Food
Canada, Normandin
Jean
M.Sc.,
chercheur
en fertilité
des sols,
LaurierLafond,
Tremblay,
Agronomist,
Ministère
de l’Agriculture,
Agriculture
et et
Agroalimentaire
Canada,
Normandin
des Pêcheries
de l’Alimentation
du Québec,
Bergeronnes
PRODUCED BY
FUNDED BY
Association
des producteurs
de bleuets de
la Côte-Nord
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Wild Blueberry Production Guide