1. A secondary forest; blueberry occurs in the understory. The lowbush blueberry is a woody perennial shrub that occurs as an understory species in spruce and pine forests, and often becomes dominant after clear-cutting and forest fires. The soils are shallow and acid (ph 4.5).
2. The forest is cleared
Blueberries are Nova Scotia's largest exported agricultural product. Most stands are derived from wild stocks, and thus it is still in an early stage of domestication. The photos illustrate a typical sequence for establishing blueberries in N.S.
3. The site is burned. The underground rhizomes enable the blueberry to withstand fire. Fire eliminates many competitors and stimulates new growth.
4. Blueberries become dominant. Stands are burned or mowed in alternate years to entrain production (giving large yields in non-burn years, no yield in burn years); herbicides may be applied to control competitors. Bees may be maintained to increase pollination.