Abstract
Fragaria × ananassa is a fruit grown all over the world, appreciated for its organoleptic and nutraceutical properties. Together with other berry fruits, it is rich in bioactive molecules that make it a beneficial fruit for human health. However, strawberry cultivation is influenced by pre- and post-harvest factors. Being a small plant, its fruit comes into direct contact with the soil and, as such, can quickly decompose. To reduce this inconvenience, farmers have used different strategies to mulch the soil, and the most useful method is polyethylene mulch films that are not biodegradable. The focus on environmentally sustainable agriculture can be represented by a transition to biodegradable mulch films. In our study, ten biodegradable mulch films were used to understand their effectiveness in covering the soil during the cultivation cycle of strawberry cv. Rociera. Polyethylene film was considered the control. The best yield and the highest number of fruits with greatest size and quality were obtained on polyethylene, BioFlex® (P2), Bio 6, and Bio 7 films. On BioFlex® (P2) and Bio 3 biodegradable films, strawberries showed a higher calcium and magnesium content, respectively. These results may encourage growers toward the use of eco-sustainable agricultural practices, such as biodegradable mulch films.
Highlights
Strawberry belongs to the Rosaceae family, Fragaria genus, with wild and cultivated species of great agronomic importance all over the world, incorporating a wide range of ecological spread, from temperate to tropical and subtropical regions, and from sea level to high altitudes [1]
Bio M F54 (Bio 1), 2, and 4 showed the lowest marketable yield, with a 25% reduction compared to the P1 film
Other biodegradable films (Bio 1, 2, and 4) led to a reduction in production of up to 25% compared to PE film
Summary
Strawberry belongs to the Rosaceae family, Fragaria genus, with wild and cultivated species of great agronomic importance all over the world, incorporating a wide range of ecological spread, from temperate to tropical and subtropical regions, and from sea level to high altitudes [1]. All cultivated varieties derive from Fragaria × ananassa, developed in 1700 in Europe from a hybridization of two natural hybrid species from America, Fragaria chilosensis and Fragaria virginiana. There are 11 species of Fragaria found in their native habitats in Europe and North and South America. The fruit of all species are dry achenes on the surface of a fleshy receptacle. The differences among the various species, or within the same species, can be seen at a morphological level, in the different color and shape of the achenes, and different morphology of the stolons and leaves [2]. In 2018, Italy and Spain dedicated an area of 4717 ha and 7032 ha to strawberry cultivation, respectively, resulting in a production of
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