Cranberry Bogs


Click on the picture for a larger image and additional harvesting pictures.

BMPs to Minimize Inputs to Ponds
Like all plants, cranberry plants require nutrients for the production of leaves, roots, and fruit. The plants get these nutrients from the soil, from water or from fertilizers applied to the bogs. While cranberries require the same nutrients as other plants, they require much smaller amounts than most crop plants.

Each season, nutrients are re-moved from the bog during harvest and detrashing (removal of fallen leaves from the bog floor). To compensate for nutrient removal, cranberry growers add fertilizer to their bogs. With proper management and use of Best Management Practices (BMPs), growers can protect the environment, including water quality in the pond, without compromising yields.

What you can do:

  • Test soil and tissue samples to determine fertilizer needs, then apply accordingly.
  • Time fertilizer application based on plant growth.
  • Calibrate fertilizer application equipment.
  • Apply nitrogen in the ammonium-N form.
  • Ensure flumes are watertight to prevent leaking
  • Follow recommendation in the Cranberry Chart Book and the Best Management Practices Guide for Massachusetts Cranberry Production.