ISHS Acta Horticulturae 648: South Pacific Soilless Culture Conference - SPSCC
EFFECTS OF EC-LEVEL AND PLANT SHADING ON FRAGARIA VESCA L. GROWN WITH THE NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE |
| Authors: | G. Caruso, A. Villari, M. Impembo |
| Keywords: | Alpine strawberry, hydroponics, buffer concentration, double crop layer, yield, nutrient absorption |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.648.7 |
| Abstract:
We report the results of research carried out in Campania in 2000/01 and 2001/02 with the aim of determining the production of everbearing alpine strawberry (local cv “Regina delle Valli”) grown under plastic (IR-PE) double-tunnels on a 300 m2 surface area and fed by a nutritive solution including overall 13 macro- (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) and microelements (B, Cl, Fe, Mn, Mo, Cu, Zn). Comparisons were made of four electrical conductivity (EC) levels (1.3, 1.6, 1.9, 2.2 mS•cm-1) of the nutritive solutions, in factorial combination with crops arranged in pairs on two vertical overlapped layers; a split-plot design was arranged and each randomised treatment included 12 plants with three replications. The NFT equipment consisted of: a) 24 rigid PVC gullies (each 12 cm wide, 10 deep and 300 long) held at 70 or 120 cm above ground level respectively; b) 24 plastic tanks holding 220 l; c) 24 submerged pumps of 90 watt unit power; d) 24 delivery and return overhead lines. Fresh plants were placed on gullies through a pierced white PE film which prevents algae diffusion. A strawberry control crop was grown in the same tunnels with the current technique, i.e. with plants spaced 25 cm along the row and in double-rows 40 cm apart (achieving the same density of 6.4 plants per m2 as with N.F.T.) on black PE mulched ridges (80 cm wide). Due to the shade, the crop placed on the lower level was negatively affected with regard to yield, where the reduced fruit number caused a 32% mean decrease. Among the other treatments examined, those based on nutrient solutions with 1.3 mS•cm-1 EC gave the highest yields, within the higher crop level, whereas 1.9 mS•cm-1 EC gave the best results with regard to the lower layer; these two treatments, overall and in relation to the net unit surface area, exceeded the control by about 74%. Daily water and ionic absorptions attained the highest intensities at the beginning of May, corresponding to the maximum fructification period; at that phase, the absorption of the analysed macronutrients was highest with the treatment of 2.2 mS•cm-1 EC. | |
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