Abstract
Sawdust, straw, compost and manure were applied under dryland conditions to strawberry plantings at two locations. The effects on yield, leaf nutrient content, soil moisture, soil acidity and soil organic matter content were evaluated. Sawdust mulch and sawdust incorporation, the former being slightly better, produced highly significant increased yields over the check treatment and were superior to all other treatments. Soil moisture measurements showed that the sawdust treatments conserved soil moisture and this was regarded as the chief reason for the increased yields. The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents of leaves were affected somewhat by the treatments but the levels were considered adequate in all cases.Soil acidity was significantly increased in the sawdust plots but this was attributed to the additional nitrogen applied rather than to the sawdust per se. Sawdust incorporation, manure and compost treatments significantly increased soil organic matter content when compared to the check treatment.
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