Tag Archives: Fragaria x ananassa Duch.

2742–2751 V. Laugale, S. Dane, S. Strautiņa and I. Kalniņa
Influence of vermicompost on strawberry plant growth and dehydrogenase activity in soil
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Influence of vermicompost on strawberry plant growth and dehydrogenase activity in soil

V. Laugale*, S. Dane, S. Strautiņa and I. Kalniņa

Institute of Horticulture (LatHort), Graudu iela 1, LV-3124 Dobele, Latvia

Abstract:

Vermicompost is increasingly becoming popular as an organic fertiliser used for different crops. Effects of vermicompost on strawberry plant growth and soil properties were studied in this investigation. The research was performed in LatHort from 2015 to 2017. Strawberry was grown on open field in rows. Two trials were established. In Trial 1, the application of vermicompost with a dose of 50 mL per plant was compared to growing without any fertilization. In Trial 2, several treatments were used: 1) only inorganic mineral fertilization applied; 2) vermicompost applied with a dose of 100 mL per plant in planting holes, later mineral fertilization applied; 3) vermicompost applied with a dose of 100 mL per plant in planting holes, no additional fertilization applied; 4) vermicompost applied two times per season on the ground around plants with dose of 50 mL per plant, no mineral fertilization applied. The plant growth was assessed two times per season by evaluating the amount of leaves and plant height. Soil dehydrogenase activity was evaluated during all growing seasons as indicator of soil microbial activity. The application of vermicompost positively influenced plant growth in comparison to growing without fertilization. In Trial 2, plant growth varied among years. During first two growing seasons better plant growth was observed for plants fertilized by inorganic mineral fertilizers, while later the growth levelled off for all treatments applied. The application of vermicompost had positive influence on the soil dehydrogenase activity in contrary to fertilization by mineral fertilizers.

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589-594 K. Kahu, L. Klaas and A. Kikas
Effect of cultivars and different growing technologies on strawberry yield and fruit quality
Abstract |

Effect of cultivars and different growing technologies on strawberry yield and fruit quality

K. Kahu, L. Klaas and A. Kikas

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and EnvironmentalSciences, Polli Horticultural Research Centre, Karksi-Nuia, 69108, Estonia;e-mail: kersti.kahu@emu.ee

Abstract:

The interest in organic farming and organically produced products is increasing every year in Estonia. In 2003 the trial with four widely grown strawberry cultivars: ‘Polka’, ‘Bounty’, ‘Korona’ and ‘Senga Sengana’ in two variants, the organic and the conventional, was established at the Polli Horticultural Research Centre. The objective of this study was to assess the strawberry cultivars in organic and conventional growing with regard to their yield and berry quality. No significant differences in commercial and defective yield per plant between two growing variants were observed in 2004, but the commercial yields were significantly higher in the conventional variant in 2005 and 2006. It was noted that organically grown strawberries had a higher content of soluble solids, but a lower content of ascorbic acid comparing with conventionally grown strawberries. Due to its good productivity and high content of soluble solids and ascorbic acid, ‘Bounty’ was the most profitable cultivar in this study, and appeared highly suitable for organic cultivation.

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