Mineral Elements Uptake and Growth of Strawberry as Influenced by Organic Substrates |
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| Authors: | Sara Yavari Saeid Eshghi Enayatollah Tafazoli Najafali Karimian |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture , Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran;2. Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture , Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran |
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| Abstract: | Pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to compare the effect of four organic substrates S1: Persian turpentine trees leaf mold (50%) + Soil (50%); S2: Oak leaf mold (50%) + Soil (50%); S3: Cypress leaf mold (50%) + Soil (50%) and S4: liquorice processing wastes (50%) + Soil (50%)] application on strawberry growth, yield, and nutrient concentration, and on some soil properties. Results showed that leaves mold and liquorice wastes application decreased pH, increased soil organic matter, and increased soil concentrations in all mineral elements studied, except for potassium (K). The amount of mineral elements in substrates had also a great influence on the leaf nutrient concentrations. High levels of nitrogen (N), K, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were obtained in leaves; while phosphorus (P) concentration was lower than sufficient levels. Although, strawberry fresh and dry weights and leaf chlorophyll content were significantly higher in plants grown in S4 with no added fertilizer, the highest fruit yield was obtained in combination substrates with 50% fertilizer. Our results indicate that use of leaf mold and liquorice wastes in soil mixtures can reduce the amount of fertilizer required for optimum strawberry plant growth and yield. |
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| Keywords: | liquorice wastes leaf mold fertilization strawberry fruit yield |
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