Oxyfertigation and Transplanting Conditions of Strawberries

Soilless growing systems can improve water-use efficiency, especially in closed soilless growing systems. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different transplanting conditions, and determine how supplying H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> as an oxygen sour...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pedro Palencia, Fátima Martínez, Miguel A. Vázquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/12/2513
Description
Summary:Soilless growing systems can improve water-use efficiency, especially in closed soilless growing systems. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different transplanting conditions, and determine how supplying H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> as an oxygen source to the rhizosphere of strawberry plants in a soilless growing system affects plant growth, fruit yield and fruit quality. Strawberry plants (<i>Fragaria</i> x <i>ananassa</i> Duch.) cv. ‘Fortuna’ were cultivated in 12 L pots filled with peat substrate, and maintained under conditions of natural light and temperature. Treated plants were supplied with hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) (H1) and control plants did not receive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (H0). In terms of the transplanting conditions, the plants were transplanted in October (T1), and either maintained in a culture chamber (T2), or refrigerated (T3), for one month, before being transplanted. A completely randomized block design with two treatment factors (transplanting conditions, and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> treatment) and five replications was established. Then, we determined the fruit per plant, yield per plant (g plant<sup>−1</sup>), fruit weight (g fruit<sup>−1</sup>), fruit size (mm), SPAD values, crown number, crown diameter (mm), flower number, firmness (g cm<sup>−1</sup>), pH, total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and TSS/TA. During the early crop cycle, there were not significant differences between treatment and the transplanting conditions that significantly affected the fruit weight and fruit size, although T3 produced the highest values. During the late crop cycle, the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> treatment affected fruit per plant, yield per plant (g plant<sup>−1</sup>), and crown diameter, with H1 producing the highest values. Furthermore, the transplanting conditions affected yield per plant (g plant<sup>−1</sup>), old SPAD values, crown diameter, firmness, TSS, TA and TSS/TA.
ISSN:2073-4395