Methodology for determining the suitability of land for the cultivation of highbush blueberry: a case study on a farm in southern Chile

The selection of good planting sites is critical for the success of blueberry plantations. The objective of the present study was to identify farm territorial units suitable for the establishment and management of highbush blueberry crops on a farm in southern Chile. A farm-level characterization was developed, and districts and sites were classified according to their receptive capacity. Numerical suitability values were subsequently obtained for each land unit identified on the farm. Four suitability categories were identified on the farm: high, moderate, low, and unsuitable, and they corresponded to 12, 60, 20, and 7% of the total surface area, respectively. The main limitations for blueberry cultivation were steep slopes, shallow soil, hydromorphism, and a soil pH that greatly exceeded the low pH values required for blueberry crops. The methodology revealed that blueberry cultivation is possible on 72% of the total surface area of the farm (high and moderate suitability areas) provided that soil management measures corresponding to the specific limitations of each area are used.