EFFECT OF FUMIGATION AND COMPOSTED YARD WASTE ON STRAWBERRY YIELD, PLANT AND ROOT QUALITY

Abstract

Dormant 'Earliglow' strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) were established in a replicated split plot factorial design in 1994. Main plots were fumigated or non-fumigated. The four subplots consisted of pre-plant applications of composted yard waste (CYW) applied to the row and incorporated (subsurface), surface-applied (surface), incorporated plus surface applied (subsurface + surface) and a control. Berries were harvested in 1995 through 1997 and analyzed for total weight (yield) and percent of culls. Plants were excavated in 1997 and analyzed for plant weight and percent black roots. Yields and percent culls varied among years. In 1995, fumigated plots had more yield than non-fumigated plots. Fumigated subsurface CYW alone had lower fresh and dry plant weight than the fumigated control. Cumulative yields for CYW plots had 9 to 17% more total weight for fumigated and 6 to 15% for non-fumigated than the controls. Fumigation and surface applied CYW had a lower percent of black roots than the control.