Small fruits are increasingly popular among consumers and producers, with blueberries standing out for their flavour, nutritional benefits, and specific growing requirements. However, cultivation can be challenging in areas with alkaline soils, such as the mid-Adriatic region of Italy, where plant growth is limited. Soilless cultivation provides a practical and profitable solution to these issues, albeit with higher initial costs. This study examined Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Duke’ grown in soilless conditions in the Marche region (Italy) using different concentrations of nutrient solutions. Nutrient concentration was measured by electrical conductivity (EC) in fertigation with three treatments—T1 (790 µS cm−1), T2 (890 µS cm−1), and T3 (990 µS cm−1)—compared with irrigation water (EC = 390 µS cm−1). Results showed that T2 produced the highest numbers of wood and flower shoots and the greatest yield. Although nutrient levels did not significantly affect quality parameters, plants with lower nutrient intake (T1) displayed higher anthocyanin content and antioxidant capacity. In contrast, those with greater nutrient supply showed higher polyphenol content. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of soilless cultivation to optimize blueberry production under suboptimal soil conditions.
Mecozzi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.