Strawberry Growth under Current and Future Rainfall Scenarios

Rachel E. Schattman,Haley Jean,Alicyn Smart,Kallol Barai,Yong-Jiang Zhang,Sean Birkel

doi:10.3390/w14030313

Abstract

Globally, the changing and interacting effects of temperature and precipitation are anticipated to influence the fitness of specialty crops. Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is an important crop in the Northeastern United States. In this study, four plausible precipitation scenarios were developed to be representative of current and future growing season precipitation patterns. Using a precipitation simulator, we tested these scenarios on potted-day-neutral strawberries. This study generated four primary results. (1) Though some treatments received different amounts of precipitation, little difference was observed in soil volumetric water content or temperature. Treatments designed to simulate future conditions were more likely to have higher nitrate-in-leachate (N-leachate) concentrations than those designed to simulate current conditions. (2) Neither total precipitation nor seasonable distribution were associated with foliar or root disease pressure. (3) While there was a slightly higher chance that photosynthesis would be higher in drier conditions, little difference was observed in the effects on chlorophyll concentration and no water stress was detected in any treatment. (4) Leaf biomass was likely more affected by total rather than seasonal distribution of precipitation, but the interaction between changing rainfall distribution and seasonal totals is likely to be an important driver of root biomass development in the future.

Highlights

The United States is ranked second in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) production, producing 20% of the global market and generating ≈USD 2.3 B gross sales annually
We aim to understand how strawberries perform under different precipitation scenarios in terms of (a) total leachate amounts and loss of nitrate through leaching, (b) incidence of disease and insect damage and (c) plant physiological performance, including chlorophyll concentration and photosynthesis
The precipitation amounts applied through the rainfall simulator were associated with differences in volumetric water content, though the difference among treatments was not as great as expected

Summary

Introduction

The United States is ranked second in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) production, producing 20% of the global market and generating ≈USD 2.3 B gross sales annually. In the Northeast, strawberries are produced on ≈1538 hectares (3800 acres) for wholesale and direct markets. In this region, strawberry production is most commonly integrated with diversified farming operations, with an average production per farm of. While most of the strawberries produced in the Northeast are consumed within the region, only 95% of strawberries purchased in Northeast states are grown there [1]. This means there are significant opportunities for growers and the agricultural advisors who support them to address current production challenges and increase production to better meet local consumer demand

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