INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION INTERVALS AND ANTITRANSPIRANTS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM A –VEGETATIVE GROWTH , FRUIT QUALITY, EARLY AND TOTAL YIELD

Abstract

This study was carried out at El-Kanater Horticulture Research Station ,El- Kaluobia Governorate during two successive seasons to illustrate the effect of three irrigation intervals (each 2,3,and 4 days ) and five antitranspirants (potassium, sodium , and aluminum silicate ,magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate) as well as control on growth ,yield and its components of Festival strawberry cultivar .The experimental design was split plot design with three replicationsunder drip irrigation system and clay soil. Results show clearly that plants irrigated each two or three days and spraying with one of the potassium silicate (kaolin) or magnesium carbonate or calcium carbonate as antitranspirants which gave the highest values of vegetative growth parameters compared to the control plants. However, irrigation each four days resulted in an increase in total soluble solids and fruit firmness with using calcium carbonate or kaolin. Irrigation intervals two or three days had no significant differences on early yield. The earliest yield/plant was obtained from irrigation each three days and foliar spraying of kaolin or magnesium carbonate or potassium silicate or calcium carbonate and sodium silicate in the two tested seasons, respectively. Total yield was adversely impact of irrigation spacing intervals. However , non significant differences were found between the irrigation each two and three days with using each of antitranspirants in total yield compared to untreated plants .The study recommend irrigation strawberry plants each three days with foliar spray of each kaolin or magnesium carbonate or calcium carbonate or potassium silicate and sodium silicate respectively, to increase the vegetative growth , fruit quality ,early and total yield under drip irrigation system at Kalubia Governorate region .