Effect of drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching on fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)

Abstract

The present study was conducted at the Department of Fruit Science and Soil Water & Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana for two consecutive years (2016, 2017) to explore the effect of drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching on fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar Chandler. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Split Plot Design with 12 combinations, comprising four levels of irrigation (I) at 120, 100, 80, 60 % ETc, three doses of fertigation (F) at 100, 80, 60 % of SDF (55 N: 40 P₂O₅: 50 K₂O kg/acre) and four type of mulches (M) (Straw, Black-black, Silver-black and Red-black); the experiment was replicated thrice. Fruit production and quality related attributes, viz. fruit yield/ha, juice acid (%), TSS (Brix°), TSS/acid ratio, total sugars (%), reducing sugars (%), ascorbic acid (mg/100g), fruit juice (%) and sensory score improved significantly with irrigation at 80% level, fertigation at 80% of SDF and plant mulched with Silver-black mulch as compared to other treatments. Interaction effect of I×F, I×M, F×M and I×F×M significantly enhanced TSS/acid ratio and reducing sugars attributes, however, the results were statistically non significant for TSS, total sugars, non reducing sugars and juice content (%). The sustainable fruit yield and fruit quality of strawberry cv. Chandler was achieved in the plants irrigated at 80% ETc level, fertigation at 44 kg N: 32 kg P₂O₅: 40 kg K₂O/acre and soil covered with silver-black mulch as alone or in various combination treatments.