Impact of Different Shed Houses and Growing Media on Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry

Abstract

Partial controls of the microclimatic conditions have a major influence on plant growth and productivity. Moreover, plant growth is largely dependent on the physicochemical properties of the growing media. The purpose of this study was to see how different growing media and shade houses affected strawberry plant growth, yield, and quality attributes. The experimental treatments include net house, UV poly shade house, and open field (control) conditions; and three different growing media i.e., 50% soil + 50% cowdung, 50% soil + 50% vermicompost, and 50% soil + 50% cocopeat were studied. According to the findings, strawberries grown in a net house with cocopeat substrate had the highest chlorophyll content (SPAD value) (46.1), fruit yield (289.16 g plant-1), total soluble solid (8.0%), reducing sugar (8.75 mg g-1) and total anthocyanin (30.80 mg 100 g-1). In contrast, fruits grown under UV poly shed with cocopeat substrate exhibited increased plant height (20.33 cm) and ascorbic acid (46.94 mg 100 g-1). Vermicompost based growing media showed no satisfactory improvement in the reproductive growth characteristics of strawberry plants. Therefore, cocopeat based growing media and net house shade may be recommended to obtain better strawberry yield and quality.