The Effect of Foliar Calcium Spraying on Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Piotr Komarnicki and Beata Cieniawska ()
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Piotr Komarnicki: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, The Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 25 Norwida St., 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Beata Cieniawska: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, The Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 25 Norwida St., 50-375 Wrocław, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: One of the methods used to improve the durability of blueberry fruits is the application of nutrients through foliar feeding with calcium, which can improve the post-harvest mechanical parameters. This study proposed an optimal selection of calcium spray parameters, which enables a rational minimisation of the negative impact of agrochemicals in the environment. The qualitative evaluation of blueberry fruit showed lime spraying induces a significant effect on the increase in fruit size, especially at a pressure of 0.2 MPa and with AIXR nozzles compared to the control group. To assess the mechanical properties, a modern method of identifying the actual loads and maximum surface pressures generated by the picker during harvesting is presented. Compression and fruit rupture tests were also used to determine the pressure values and forces that are considered safe from the perspective of harvest quality. The comparative analysis of destructive compression and detachment tests confirmed that fruit firmness (Fp) was approximately 80% higher than the detachment force (Fpf), with peak pressures more than twice as high, suggesting that handpicking poses minimal risk of mechanical damage. The implementation of optimal spraying techniques combined with the correct assessment of the mechanical properties of fruits is important in agricultural practice, where it is crucial to obtain high-quality blueberries after harvest.

Keywords: spray technique; fertiliser; firmness; handpicking; compression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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