Effects of drip irrigation on the yield of strawberry plants grown under arable conditions

T. Nowakowski, J. Chlebowski* and A. Grzybowska

Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural and Forest Machinery, Street Nowoursynowska 164, PL02-787 Warsaw, Poland
*Correspondence: jaroslaw_chlebowski@sggw.pl

Abstract:

The study investigated the effects of drip irrigation on the yield of ‘Honeoye’ strawberry plants for commercial purposes grown under arable conditions throughout the harvest season. The plants were irrigated at irregular intervals depending on natural precipitation. Crop yields and fruit parameters (diameter, length, individual weight, count per plant) were compared on several harvest dates. Statistical analysis has shown that irrigation has a significant impact on yield and fruit parameters. The irrigated plants yielded more strawberries, which also had a larger diameter, length, and individual weight.

Key words:

The influence of drip irrigation and woodchip mulch on growth and first yield of sour cherries

D. Feldmane

Latvia University of Agriculture, Lielā 2, LV3001, Jelgava, Latvia;e-mail: daina.feldmane@inbox.lv

Abstract:

The trial was established at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing in 2007 to determine the effect of soil moisture adjustment on the yield of different sour cherry cultivars. Woodchip mulch and drip irrigation were used on cultivars ‘Bulatnikovskaya’, ‘Desertnaya Morozovoi’, ‘Latvijas Zemais’, ‘Orlica’, ‘Shokoladnica’, ‘Tamaris’ and ‘Zentenes’. In general the use of drip irrigation increased the vegetative growth of sour cherries. The use of woodchip mulch tended to decrease growth in the first two growing years but significantly advanced growth in the third growing year. The use of drip irrigation did not influence the yield of sour cherries, but the treatment with woodchip mulch decreased the yield. The cultivar ‘Bulatnikovskaya’ was the most productive.

Key words:

canopy volume, drip irrigation, woodchip mulch