High-Tunnel Production of Strawberries Using Black and Red Plastic Mulches

Geoffrey Lalk,Tongyin Li,Guihong Bi,Qianwen Zhang,Richard Harkess

doi:10.3390/horticulturae6040073

Abstract

High tunnels are economical season extension tools for strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) growers in nonmajor strawberry producing states in the United States (US), where grower competitiveness can be increased by off-season crop production. Six June-bearing (“Camarosa”, “Camino Real”, “Chandler”, “Fronteras”, “Sensation”, and “Strawberry Festival”) and two day-neutral (“Albion” and “San Andreas”) strawberry cultivars were transplanted on 18 November 2017 and evaluated for their growth, yield, quality, and time of fruit harvest in a high-tunnel production system in Mississippi (US Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zone 8a) during one growing season from fall 2017 to spring 2018. Effects of black and red plastic mulches were compared in producing strawberries. The high tunnel raised daily air temperatures, provided frost protection, and resulted in advanced fruit harvest by 4–6 weeks compared to local field production with the first ripe fruit produced in early March. “Camino Real”, “Chandler”, and “Strawberry Festival” produced similar highest total marketable yields of 483 g to 559 g per plant, with “Sensation” producing the lowest marketable yield of 215 g per plant. Red mulch decreased marketable yield in March but increased it in May compared with black mulch. Mulch type did not affect plant vegetative growth or strawberry fruit quality variables including berry size, soluble solid content, total phenolic content, or total anthocyanin content.

Highlights

Strawberry is one of the most consumed fruits in the United States (US), serving as an important component of a healthy diet [1]
The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the season extension effect of a high tunnel used for strawberry production in US Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zone 8a, (2) compare yield and quality of different strawberry cultivars grown in a high-tunnel production system, and (3) investigate the effect of a red plastic mulch versus black plastic mulch on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality
Side curtains and end doors of the high tunnel were closed when the air temperature at night was below 4.4 ◦ C and were opened during the day with temperatures rising above 4.4 ◦ C

Summary

Introduction

Strawberry is one of the most consumed fruits in the United States (US), serving as an important component of a healthy diet [1]. In 2017, total strawberry production in the US was 1.6 billion tons, of which. Per capita consumption of fresh strawberries increased from 2 lbs in 1980 to 7.2 lbs in 2018 [2,8,9]. Sourced fresh strawberries are receiving increased demand through market outlets including community-supported agriculture (CSA), farmer’s markets, u-pick farms, and farm stands [4]. Strawberry harvests in these states fall between February and June with peak production typically in April and May [2,4]. Strawberry harvest from field production in Mississippi often starts in late April or early May [10]. Growers use mainly June-bearing cultivars including “Camarosa”, Horticulturae 2020, 6, 73; doi:10.3390/horticulturae6040073 www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae “Camino Real”, “Chandler”, and “Strawberry Festival” with limited use of day-neutral cultivars due to excessive heat in the south [11,12]

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion