EARLY PRODUCTION OF STRAWBERRY USING SOILLESS CULTURE SYSTEMS

Abstract

This study was divided to two experiments: First experiment was carried out at the experimental site of Arid Land Agricultural graduate studies and Research Institute (ALARI), Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Qalyobia Governorate. While, the second ones was carried out at Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza Governorate. The experiments were carried out during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Fresh bare root strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) transplants cv. Festival were used in these two experiments. The aim of this study was to determine the best irrigation scheduling and better strawberry density to get the best early production and quality of strawberry fruits grown in soilless culture systems (A-shape ‘NFT system’, substrate system ‘Bed system). For first experiment, five irrigation schedules (24 hours (control), ¼ / ½ hour (Sched 1), ¼ / 1 hour (Sched 2), ¼ / 2 hours (Sched 3), ¼ / 3 hours (Sched 4) and two plant density per square meter (21 plants / m2 “PD-1”, 32 plants / m2 “PD-2”) and the combinations among them were tested in this experiment. Second experiment, two irrigation schedules (¼ / 2 hours, ¼ / 3 hours), and two plant density per square meter (12 plants / m2 “PD-1”, 18 plants / m2 “PD-2”) and the combinations among them were tested in this experiment. The EC of the nutrient solution was adjusted at the range of 2.0 – 2.5 m.mhos-2 and pH was maintained at the range of 5.5-6.0 throughout the experimental time. The measurements recorded were as follows: vegetative growth measurements include number of leaves, leaves total chlorophyll, leaves fresh weight, leaves dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight. Productivity measurements include number of flowers/plant, number of fruits/plant, % of fruit set, early yield (g/plant), total yield (g/plant), mean fruit weight (g), marketable yield (g/plant), marketable yield (%), un marketable yield (g/plant) and unmarketable yield (%). Quality measurements include total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid (mg/100g) and titratable acidity. Chemicals measurements include macro and micro-nutrient contents in the leaves. Water measurements include water consumption. Results indicated that, First experiment: irrigating plants for 15 min every ½ hour (Sched 1) increased plant productivity (mean fruit weight (g), early yield (g/plant) and total yield (g/plant)) and quality (TSS) with significant differences but reduced vitamin C and fruit acidity of strawberry. However using plant density of 32 plant/m2 recorded higher number of strawberry leaves, total chlorophyll of leaves, early and total yield, vitamin C and titratable acidity but recorded the lowest water consumption (L/plant). Second experiment: results illustrated that irrigating plants for 15 min every 2 hours (Sched 1) increased vegetative growth parameter (number of strawberry leaves and total chlorophyll of leaves), productivity parameter (early yield (g/plant), total yield (g/plant) and mean fruit weight (g) and quality parameter (titratable acidity). However using 18 plants/m2 recorded higher number of strawberry leaves, total chlorophyll of leaves, total yield, vitamin C and lower water consumption (L/plant). Regarding the interaction between irrigation scheduling and plant density.

Key Words: Soilless culture, NFT, Substrate, Strawberry, Irrigation scheduling, Plant density