Effect of Different Electrical Conductances and Vertical Hydroponics Systems on Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn

Abstract

The experiment entitled “Effect of Different Electrical Conductances and Vertical Hydroponics Systems on Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn’’ was carried under a Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, Assam during the year 2019-21. The experiment was laid out in a factorial completely randomized block design with three types of vertical hydroponics systems viz., T1 , T2 , and T3 , and two EC levels viz., L1 (1.8 dSm-1) and L2 (2.5 dSm-1) and six replications. Among the three vertical hydroponics systems T1 and L1 were found to be the best for yield and yield contributing characteristics. The significant effect of vertical hydroponics system T1 and L1 was observed in NAR (1.35mg cm-2 day-1) and (1.34 mg cm-2 day-1), yield (357.88 g./plant) and (316.91g./plant), fruit weight (25.61g) and (24.03g), number of fruits per plant (13.92) and (12.97), Number of fruits per system (295.00) and (247.08), weight of fruit per system (5.84 kg) and (5.84 kg), fruit length (6.96cm) and (5.88cm), fruit girth (10.35cm) and (9.89cm) and Fruit volume (10.56 cc) and (9.74 cc) was found highest in T1 , L1 and T1 xL1 . Among the two EC and three vertical hydroponic systems, significant differences in growth parameters were observed primarily due to differences in Net Assimilation Rate (NAR) availability. A higher NAR availability led to a higher rate of photosynthesis, better quality of the fruits of the plants in the T1 . Therefore, some modifications such as A-shape or V-shape designs are suggested in the vertical hydroponics system to improve NAR availability in the column type and Shelf-type. Among both E.C levels, the effect of EC 1.8 was found to be the best for yield contributing characters of strawberries.