Project Overview
Commodities
- Fruits: berries (cranberries)
Practices
- Crop Production: cropping systems
- Education and Training: decision support system, extension, on-farm/ranch research
- Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns
Proposal summary:
This project addresses a persistent question among cranberry growers regarding the optimal method for establishing new bed plantings. The objective is to provide growers with quantifiable data comparing two planting methods-rooted cuttings versus mowed vines-at two different planting densities.
Successful establishment in cranberry production occurs during the first two years when vines must fill in bare ground and develop a growth mat with sufficient density for commercial crop production. During this establishment period, intensive management practices are required, including regular weeding, pesticide applications, and fertilization programs to prevent weed competition and promote vine coverage.
Beyond agronomic considerations, economic factors are equally important. Labor costs for planting vary significantly between methods, and the timeline to profitability is a critical concern for growers. This trial will quantify the differences between planting methods by measuring establishment rates, total input costs including labor and materials, and time to first commercial harvest. These data will enable growers to make informed decisions regarding one of the most significant capital investments in cranberry production.
Project objectives from proposal:
The primary objective of this project is to identify the optimal planting method for commercial cranberry production by comparing establishment of plant growth, yield potential, genetic purity and economic returns.
Objective 1: Establish a New Cranberry Planting
A 4-acre bog at Pine Island Cranberry (Chatsworth, NJ) will serve as the experimental site. Prior to planting, the bog will be prepared by dredging sand from the property and spreading a 10 inch layer across the surface. Two planting material types will be compared: individual plants sold from a certified nursery, Integrity Propagation (Chatsworth, NJ) and baled mowings harvested from an existing bed. To ensure varietal purity and reduce risk of spreading pathogens, vegetative upright samples will be collected throughout the source bed and submitted to Rutgers University for DNA fingerprinting and disease screening.
Cultivar 'Haines' will be planted in April, once temperatures consistently remain above freezing, using four treatment combinations in a replicated, split plot design:
- Individual plants: 1 plant/ft² and 1.5 plants/ft²
- Baled mowings: 1 bale/acre and 1.5 bales/acre
Treatments will be established in 0.25-acre plots replicated three times within the bog so that one half of the bog gets the same treatment as the other half. Standard cultural practices will include nitrogen fertilization to promote vegetative runner growth, pre-emergent herbicide applications and pesticide sprays.
Objective 2: Measure and Compare Growth Differences
Beginning in May and continuing biweekly through October (12 flights total), aerial imagery will be collected using an RGB-equipped drone to track plant spacing and canopy development. Drone monitoring will continue for two growing seasons. Ground-based measurements will include:
- Weed biomass quantification (twice in a season) and labor time documentation for twelve 1-ft² per plot
- End-of-season upright shoot counts from twelve 1-ft² samples per plot
The bed will be flooded in December following standard winter flood protocols for frost protection of vegetative vines.
Objective 3: Evaluate Yield Potential and Economic Returns
After two growing seasons, fruit yield will be assessed by collecting and weighing twelve 1-ft² samples per plot. Total production costs will be calculated for each treatment, and cost-per-unit-yield will be compared to determine economic viability. Final purity and disease screening will be conducted to assess planting health and quality.