EFFECT OF SOME FERTILIZER TREATMENTS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND FRUIT QUALITY OF STRAWBERRIES

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out at Shebeen El-Kanater region, ElQulybiya Governorate, Egypt, during 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons, on fresh strawberry plants cv. Camarosa. This experiment aimed to determine the optimal nitrogen and potassium fertilizer levels as well as studying the effect of nitrogen sources (poultry manure, ammonium sulphate or both) on the productivity and fruit quality of strawberries. Three nitrogen levels (100, 80 and 60 kg N/fed.), three nitrogen sources (100% ammonium sulphate, 100% poultry manure and 50% poultry manure plus 50% ammonium sulphate) and two potassium levels (150 and 200 kg K2O/fed.) were studied. Results showed that increasing nitrogen levels increased vegetative growth characteristics (plant length, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry leaves and crowns weights) and early marketable yield but decreased number of flowers per plant. The highest values for exportable and total yield were recorded with 60 kg N/fed. There are different responses to nitrogen levels with fruit quality characteristics