Carbon and Nitrogen Reserves in Perennial Strawberry Affect Plant Growth and Yield

Abstract

Early spring growth of perennial strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) plants is supported by the carbohydrate and nitrogen (N) reserves accumulated from the previous growing season. The limitations of these reserves on the initial spring growth and yield of perennial strawberries have not been studied in detail, particularly the influence of N reserves. Differential N fertigation (0 to 20 mm N) was applied to potted strawberries during the growing season and a supplemental foliar urea application was applied to a portion of the plants in the fall to modify reserve N during dormancy. Plant N content and spring vegetative growth the year after fertigation increased nearly twofold with increasing N fertigation. Photosynthesis per unit leaf area also increased up to 10 mm of fertilizer N and then stabilized through 20 mm. Foliar urea application in fall further increased total plant N content and size, decreased carbohydrate concentration, and also decreased yield in plants with the most total N. Nitrogen fertigation was resumed on a portion of these plants in early spring, but new growth and subsequent yield were unaffected by spring N application. In a second experiment, CO2 enrichment with and without soil and foliar N application in the fall was used to vary carbon (C) and N reserves. CO2 enrichment in fall increased plant size and yield the next July by ≈20%, but total nonstructural carbohydrate and N concentrations were unaffected. Foliar urea application also increased N and C reserves (but not concentration) as well as yield in both enriched and unenriched plants. Although foliar urea in fall decreased carbohydrate concentration, total reserve levels were unaffected because treated plants were larger. In this experiment, spring N increased plant size by ≈50%, but yield was increased only 12%, suggesting that yields are mostly dependent on reserves. Increasing N reserves with a late fall foliar application is one strategy growers can use to efficiently enhance growth and yield in low to moderately fertilized plants.