Abstract
Optimum leaf nitrogen (N) concentrations have been identified for strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) in temperate and Mediterranean areas, but whether these values are appropriate for the subtropics is unclear. Two experiments were conducted for 2 years to determine if the seasonal changes in the concentration of leaf N affect the diagnosis of deficiency or sufficiency of strawberry plants in Queensland, Australia. In 2014, ‘Festival’, ‘Fortuna’, and ‘Winter Dawn’ were planted in early April and grown with and without N for the entire season. Then, ‘Festival’ was planted the following year in mid- or late April and, again, was grown with and without N. Yield was slightly lower with N in 2014, but higher with it the following year, particularly in the early planting. The concentration of total N in young, fully expanded leaves decreased from 3.0% to 2.0% as leaf, crown, and root dry weight increased, while the concentration of nitrate-N (NO3-N) decreased from 1200–3200 to 50–500 mg/kg. These changes in leaf N were large enough to affect the diagnosis of N deficiency or sufficiency. The concentration of leaf N was less variable than the concentration of leaf NO3-N and, therefore, better for estimating the nutrient status of strawberry plants in the subtropics.
Highlights
Annual strawberry production across the globe has reached about 8 million tonnes [1]
Cultivars and plant agronomy developed in temperate or Mediterranean areas may not always be appropriate for subtropical areas
This paper reports on the seasonal variation in leaf N in strawberry plants growing in Queensland, Australia
Summary
Annual strawberry production across the globe has reached about 8 million tonnes [1]. Most of the production is found in temperate areas such as northern Europe, northern United States, Canada, Chile, and China, and in Mediterranean areas such as Spain, California, and Mexico [2]. Production in these regions occurs during the warm part of the year. The strawberry season is shorter, and growth and yield are lower, in subtropical areas than in Mediterranean areas. Cultivars and plant agronomy developed in temperate or Mediterranean areas may not always be appropriate for subtropical areas
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