Abstract
Student ID: M10022010 Title of Thesis: The Coir-based Substrates Formulation and Nutrient Solutions for Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch) Cultivation Total Pages: 74 Name of Institute: National Pingtung University of Science and Technology Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation Graduate Date: July 26, 2013 Degree Conferred: Master Name of Student: Brontie I. L. Tucker Advisor: Yunn-Shy Ho, Ph.D. The Contents of Abstract in This Thesis: Due to problems of soil degradation, soil contamination from pathogens and the phase out of methyl bromide as a soil disinfectant, strawberry field farmers have turned to the use of artificial substrates for production. Peat moss is one of the most commonly used substrates. However, due to fears of negative impacts of continuous mining on the ecosystem, it is necessary to find alternatives to substitute its use. The objective of this research was therefore to investigate the use of coir-based substrates as an adequate substitution for peat-lite substrate in strawberry production; and the effect of the 3 nutrient solutions applied in the separate circulated subirrigation systems to the growth of plants. Two experiments were carried out from December 2011-April 2012 and from December 2012-April 2013 respectively. The experiments were conducted in a fan-and-pad greenhouse, strawberry plantlets were transplanted into pots filled with different substrates. In the first experiment, substrate treatments were 3 peat: 2 perlite (PL), 2 peat: 1 perlite: 1 carbonated rice hulls (PLR), 3 peat: 2 carbonated rice hulls (PR), 3 coir: 2 perlite (CL), 2 coir: 1 perlite: 1 carbonated rice hulls (CLR), 3 coir: 2 carbonated rice hulls (CR) (v:v). Potted plants were watered using sprinkle irrigation and fertilizer was applied weekly. All of the coir-based substrate treated plants exhibited discoloration on old leaves and produced less vegetative mass and yields than plants cultivated in peat-based substrates. There was no significant difference among treatments PLR, CL and CR for fruit fresh weight and fruit quality. In the second experiment, PL, PR and 2 coir dust: 1 coir fiber: 1 carbonated rice hulls (CCR) substrates were studied. Potted plants were placed in individual closed subirrigation systems with 3 fertilizer treatments separately. No difference was found between the interactions of fertilizer-substrate. All of the plants showed similar growth rate. Fertilizer Yamasaki for strawberry had the highest root fresh and dry weights. N, P, K, Ca and Mg element contents in tissues sampled before fruiting showed no significant difference. There was no significant difference among substrates for fruit yield and quality. It posed no nitrogen deficiency in the circulated sub-fertigation system. This experiment indicated that coir-based substrate can be an adequate substitute for peat moss in soilless strawberry culture. Also, carbonated rice hulls can be used as an alternative to perlite in mixes. However, further investigation is necessary to gain more knowledge about the fertilizer management of coir-based substrates with carbonated rice hulls for better fruit yield from strawberry cultivation. Key words: carbonated rice hulls, coir, Fragaria ×ananassa Duch, peat moss, perlite
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