Effect of different substrates and nutrient solutions on vegetative growth, mineral content, production and fruit quality of strawberry

Abstract EN

The impact of three substrate mixtures and three nutrient solutions on the vegetative growth, mineral content, production and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa, cv.

Festival) was studied under unheated double-span plastic house conditions, at the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Agricultural Research Center (ARC) during the two winter seasons of ٢٠١٢/٢٠١٣ and ٢٠١٣/٢٠١٤.

The three substrate mixtures were perlite:peat-moss (١:١ V/V) M١, perlite: plant compost (٤:١ V/V) M٢, and perlite : vermicompost (٤:١ V/V) M٣, while the three nutrient solutions were vermicompost-tea, animal compost-tea and mineral nutrition (control).

The tested factors were arranged in factorial design with three replicates.

Obtained results indicated that all studied characteristics of the vegetative growth, yield and its components, fruit quality and chemical characteristics were greater by using the substrates mixture perlite: peat-moss as compared to the other two mixtures, whereas firmness, fruit acidity (TA) and vitamins C in fruits were high by using substrate mixtures perlite: vermicompost.

The highest concentration of heavy metals (Ni and Pb) in fruits was detected when using substrate mixture perlite: plant compost was used.

Regarding effect of nutrient solution, the mineral fertilizer (control) significantly increased vegetative growth, yield and its components, TSS, fruit taste, vitamins C and chemical characteristics compared to other tested nutrient solutions.

However, the fruit firmness, TA and heavy metals were significantly higher when animal compost tea was used.

The highest significant values of vegetative growth, yield and its component, fruit quality and chemical characteristics were recorded for plants grown in perlite: peat-moss mixture and fertigated with the mineral nutrient (control), while plants grown in perlite: vermicompost mixture and got animal compost-tea as nutrient showed the highest values of fruit firmness, TA and heavy metals.