Effects of oxyfertigation on strawberry plant growth and fruit quality in a soilless growing system
2019
Palencia, P. | Martinez, F. | Padua, D. | Oliveira, J. A.
In soilless growing systems, the plant rhizosphere is confined in a small volume of substrate and displays high rates of metabolic activity, respiration and growth. The O(2) requirements in the rhizosphere are therefore very high. The factors affecting the O(2) concentration in the rhizosphere include aeration capacity, irrigation management, organic matter content, salinity of the substrate and the O(2) content of the irrigation water. The main aim of this study was to evaluate how provision of H(2)O(2) as an oxygen source during the crop cycle affects the rhizosphere of strawberry plants in a soilless growing system. The effects of different transplanting conditions were also evaluated. The experiment was carried out over a period of seven months. Strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. 'Fortuna') were cultivated in 12-L pots (one plant per pot) filled with peat substrate and maintained under conditions of natural light and temperature. Treated plants were supplied with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) (H1) and control plands did not receive H(2)O(2) (H0). The transplanting conditions were as follows: T1, plants were transplanted, as usual, in October; T2, plants were maintained in the culture chamber for one month before being transplanted; and T3, plants were maintained in refrigeration (4°C) for one month before being transplanted. A completely randomized block design was applied (2 H(2)O(2) treatments × 3 transplanting conditions), with 5 replications (pots). In order to evaluate the effects of the H(2)O(2) treatment/transplanting conditions, we determined the fruit yield plant(‑1) (g plant(‑1)), fruit diameter, number of flowers, chlorophyll content (SPAD values), crown diameter, °Brix, titratable acidity (TA) and firmness. The H(2)O(2) treatment affected fruit yield plant(‑1) (g plant(‑1)) and number of flowers. The transplanting conditions affected yield plant(‑1) (g plant(‑1)), fruit diameter, SPAD values and crown diameter.
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