Nitrogen rates in strawberry (Fragaria ananasa) nursery on growth and yield in the field

Abstract

Abstract Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv. Aliso) plants were grown under three N‐rates in the nursery: 80, 320 and 640 kg N/ha, and then transplanted to the fruiting field. Plants from each nursery treatment were given 150, 300 and 450 kg N/ha. The fertilizer was given as ammonium sulfate in the nursery and as ammonium nitrate in the field, a part broadcasted before planting and the other part applied as top dressings. Biomass production, plantlets size distribution and N content were restricted by the lowest level of N given in the nursery. Plants grown at 320 kg N/ha in the nursery gave significantly earlier and higher total yields than those grown at the other rates. Fruit yields were not significantly influenced by the N‐application in the field. N fertilization in the early stages of strawberry plant development in the nursery is more important than later field application. The influence of N fertilization on the growth and yield of strawberry plants has been studied by several workers. In some repo...