Field studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 at the Sandhills Research Station near Jackson Springs, NC to determine the influence of weed-free strip width (WFSW) on newly planted ‘Navaho' blackberry plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality. Treatments consisted of 0-, 0.3-, 0.6-, 1.2-, 1.8-, and 2.4-m WFSW. Predicted blackberry yield increased from 718 to 1,015 kg ha−1 at WFSW of 0 to 2.4 m. The currently recommended WFSW of 1.2 m resulted in a blackberry yield of 1,013 kg ha−1. Predicted individual blackberry fruit weight displayed a positive linear response to WFSW and increased from 3.1 to 3.6 g fruit−1 at WFSW of 0 to 2.4 m. Soluble solids content (SSC) of dull black blackberry fruit was greatest (15.1 Brix) when WFSW was 0 m. Relative to a WFSW of 0 m, SSC was reduced 2.3 to 3.4% as WFSW increased from 0.3 to 2.4 m, respectively. WFSW did not influence shiny black blackberry fruit SSC, nor titratable acidity, sugar-to-acid ratio, or pH of shiny or dull black blackberry fruit or primocane number, length, and stem caliper.
