Effect of growth media and foliar application of macro nutrients on agronomic performance of strawberry

Strawberry (Fragaria ananasa), belongs to rosaceae family, which is rich in vitamins and minerals. The requirement of optimized media is very important because plant growth is largely dependent upon the physiochemical properties of the growing media usded for high yield and economic production of crops. Present study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of strawberry in the different media and combination of the macro nutrients. Different media combination were used including soil, peat moss and soil+peat combination in equal proportion. Foliar application of NPK at weekly interval was done with 4ppm, 6ppm and 8ppm.The design was CRD with 3 replicates. Results revealed that strawberry plant showed better response in peat moss media with 6 and 8 ppm foliar application of NPK. Chlorophyll content at vegetative stage was maximum (19.6) at 6ppm, while at reproductive stage it was (23.69) with 4 ppm foliar application in peat moss. Maximum Number of fruits (7.21) were obtained in peat moss. Fruit weight (23.52), leaf area (625.86) and total soluble solids (7.33) were recorded maximum in peat moss with 8 and 6 ppm foliar application of NPK as compared to control. The color and the taste were also good in peatmoss media with higher doses of macro nutrients. So, plants grown in peat moss growing media showed significant increase in all parameters and gave better performance of strawberry growth and development both in vegetative as well as ass reproductive parameters.


Introduction
Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) belongs to Rosacea family of the genus Fragaria [1].The strawberry plant is an herbaceous perennial.Strawberries contain a desirable amount of vitamins, fiber and sugars [2].Vitamin C, Phenolic and flavonoids are also present in strawberry fruit [3].Mainly 4.6-6.5 pH is suitable for strawberry [4].Pakistan is producing a limited quantity of strawberries.
The estimated per acre income of the strawberry is about Rs.100,000 per season [5].In early summer plant firstly bloom and then fruit.Vegetative growth starts in summer, after a period of rest.Peat moss is used as a soil conditioner which enhances the water holding capacity of soil.Peat moss improves the aeration condition by allowing the formation of the greater root system, promoting shoot nutrition uptake and strengthening activities of capturing light and increased yield [6]. Soilless media also give good oxygen penetration and develop good growth of the root system along with the sustainability of strawberry [7].Along with the media, foliar application of fertilizer plays an important role in growth and yield of strawberry plant.To increase nutrient content in certain above-ground plant organism foliar nutrition is important [8] and foliar application of fertilizer usually compensates the deficiency of nutrients.Contemporary study was designed to check the effect of growing media and foliar application of fertilizer on the strawberry plant.Cultivar "Chandler" is good candidate in future for better yield of its fruits.In Layyah region farmers are not much familiar with strawberry cultivation and limited work has been done.It is because that they do not known about its nutritional value and net price.So, the present study will guide the farmers for the optimization of production technology of strawberry in Thal region of Layyah by using different media and fertility program.

Materials and methods
The research was conducted out at Department of Horticulture BZU Bahadur Sub-Campus Layyah in 2015-2016.The experiment was conducted out on a strawberry cv.'Chandler' transplanted in the month of December in pots placed in the nursery area of Department of Horticulture Bahauddin Zakariya University Bahadur Campus Layyah.The soil in the experimental pots was analyzed for pH, Electrical conductivity (EC) and for its nutrients contents.Each pot contain 1.55 kg of soil (M1) while soil + peat moss contains 1.35 kg in each pot (M2) and peat moss contains 0.30 kg in each pot (M3).So, M1 was 100% Soil, M2 was Soil & peat moss (50%+50%) and M3 was 100% peat moss.The runners of the strawberry plants were taken from Sawat.Plants were grown in medium size pots with 3 different medias, out of 161 pots 20 pots included soil, 20 pots included soil +peat moss and only peat moss media contains 121 pots.The experiment was designed in Completely Randomized Designed (CRD) with 3 replications.T1 treatment was applied with 4ppm of NPK, while T2 with 6ppm and T3 with 8ppm of NPK.Uniform weeding and cultural practices were applied for development of runners and for good growth.

Data collection
Vegetative, reproductive, qualitative and quantitative parameters were collected for comparison of plant growth under different media and fertilizer application (Table 1).The leaf area was calculated by measuring length and width of leaves in millimeters (mm).The length and width of leaves of each plant was taken by using "Digital Vernier caliper (0-150 mm).Leaf Area = Length (mm) × width (mm) × correction factor (0.75) [9].Number of fruits were picked and then counted.Three berries from each treatment were randomly selected and average weight of berry was recorded on "electronic balance SF-400" and expressed in grams.Taste was checked by eating strawberry fruit from each treatment.The scale for taste was (Sweet, sour, Bitter).In each treatment 5 fruits were collected on random basis and taste score chart was developed to measure the fruit taste of each treatment.The fruit color was observed on visual basis.The scale for color was (Pink, light pink, red, dark red).The color of five fruits per treatment was collected for color scoring and their average was taken.Five plants per treatment were tagged and counted for chlorophyll content by using "Chlorophyll meter CL-101".Chlorophyll content of strawberry were measured from the leaves at vegetative and reproductive stages.Total soluble solids of the five fresh fruits were recorded by using "Digital Refractometer LH-T80" at room temperature and expressed in 0 Brix.The juice of each fruit was extracted and a drop of juice was dropped on the lens of refractometer then clean with distilled water after each observation (Table 2).

Statistical analysis
The data was analyzed by using STATISTIX 8.1 and means were compared by using Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5% probability level [10].

Results and discussion
Statistical analysis of data including leaf area showed significant effect of media and fertilizer (Table 3).Maximum leaf area (625.86 mm) was observed in peat moss by 8ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (165.19mm) were observed in soil with 4ppm foliar application of NPK (Table 2).The combination of peat moss media with foliar application of macro nutrients increase the stem and leaf area.The foliar application of macronutrients make direct availability of nitrogen by to leaves and peat moss media also provide all kind of nutrients to the plant roots, making them capable to grow maximum as compared to the soil media.Maximum leaf area was observed in peat moss with foliar application of NPK.Ogendo et al. [11] reported that peat moss have the sufficient amount of potassium which increased leaf growth and increased the sugar accumulation which promotes the leaf area.Minimum leaf area observed in soil may be due to inadequate amount of macro and micro nutrients in soil conditions Abu-Zahra and Tahboub [12] reported the same result.Statistical analysis of data including chlorophyll content showed significant effect of media and fertilizer (Table 3).Maximum chlorophyll content (19.6) at vegetative stage was observed in peat moss by 8 ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (10.7) were observed in soil with 8ppm foliar application of NPK (Table 4).Because phosphorus was unavailable for the plants in soil as compared to peat moss, as much the phosphorus will be present in the plant leaves, more chlorophyll content will be produced.

Table 3. Analysis of variance showing the mean squares of parameters as influenced by macronutrient (T), media (M) and their interaction (TxM)
Parameters Media (M) (DF=2)

Macronutrients concentration (T) (DF=3) M x T (DF=6)
Leaf Statistical analysis of data regarding number of fruits showed significant effect of media and fertilizer (Table 2).Maximum number of fruits (7.21) were observed in soil by 8 ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (2.77) were observed in soil with 4ppm foliar application of NPK (Table 4).
In 2011 scientist Herencia et al [13] reported that organic media contains phosphorus and nitrogen which increase flower bud initiation and growth.Our results are also similar with their findings.Foliar application of NPK in a sufficient amount fulfills the unique formulation of natural growth promoters, which has proven to substantially increase flowering and fruiting.Phosphorous is important for energy storage and development of fruit.Both the media (peat moss) and foliar application of NPK increased the no of fruits.In our soil available phosphorus was 7, with 8 pH and 128 ds/m Ec which promoted the runners growth in the form of maximum fruits.Deficiency of nitrogen could be indicated by less number of flower and fruits at time of flowering through which flower size decreased and female flower part aborted [14].
Statistical analysis of data regarding fruit weight showed significant effect of media and fertilizer (

Table 2 . Comparison of means of fertilizer and media on strawberry plant for leaf area, chlorophyll content at vegetative & reproductive stage Treatment Leaf Area (mm) Chlorophyll content at Vegetative stage
Means followed by a different letter indicates significant differences between two treatments at P < .05

Table 3
Maximum leaf area (625.86 mm) was observed in peat moss by 8ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (165.19mm) were observed in soil with 4ppm foliar application of NPK.Maximum chlorophyll content (19.6) at vegetative stage was observed in peat moss by 8 ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (10.7) were observed in soil with 8ppm foliar application of NPK.Maximum chlorophyll (23.69) content at reproductive stage was observed in peat moss by 6 ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (11.13) were observed in soil with 4ppm foliar application of NPK.Maximum number of fruits (7.21) was observed in soil by 8ppm foliar application of NPK.While, minimum (2.78) were observed in soil with 4ppm foliar application of NPK.It is therefore, concluded that among all the three medias strawberry plants responded better on peat moss based growing medium with 6 and 8ppm foliar application of NPK as compared to control.