DOES SAND APPLICATION TO SOIL SURFACE BENEFIT CRANBERRY PRODUCTION

The effect of sand application to 'Stevens' cranberry (Vaccinium macro carpon Ail,) was studied for 3 years in a 24-year-old (site 1) and an 8-year-old (site 2) commercial planting, Treatments in Apr, 1991 consi sted of a onetime sand application of 1.3 or 2.5 cm on the surface of the cranberry bed and a nonsanded control, Yield component data were c ollected in Fall 1991 through 1993, In 1991, 2.5 cm of sand reduced yi eld 50% at site 2 compared to the nonsanded control, At site 1, the 2, 5-cm sand depth did not reduce yield, while the 1,3-cm-deep applicatio n improved yield 18% compared to the control, The year after sanding ( 1992), yields equalized across all treatments at both sites,In 1993, t here was no significant difference in yield for treatments at site 1, At site 2, however, heavy sanding reduced yield 63 % compared to 1.3 c m of sand, Our work suggests that heavy sanding is not recommended for 'Stevens' cranberry beds in Oregon,