Growth, Productivity, and Quality of Strawberry as Affected by Propagation Method and Cultivation System

Summary

This comparative field trial evaluated the combined effects of propagation method (cutting vs. pinning) and cultivation system (soil vs. hydroponic) on strawberry productivity and quality over a full production cycle. Hydroponic cultivation and cutting propagation both outperformed their counterparts, yielding higher fruit productivity and quality, with soil-grown plants producing smaller, unmarketable fruits and hydroponic systems generating malformed fruits as the primary quality issue. The findings suggest hydroponic systems are superior for commercial strawberry production, particularly when combined with cutting propagation.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted in South Korea and addresses protected horticulture systems typical of East Asian intensive production. The findings on hydroponic versus soil cultivation are internationally transferable and relevant to United Kingdom glasshouse and polytunnel strawberry production, which increasingly employs hydroponic and substrate-based systems; however, UK growers should note that seasonal variation in fruit quality and propagation suitability may differ under temperate maritime conditions.

Key measures

Vegetative growth parameters, total fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight, total unmarketable fruit ratio, fruit quality indices, proportion of malformed and small fruits by cultivation system, seasonal fruit quality variation

Outcomes reported

The study measured growth parameters, fruit productivity (total yield per plant, average fruit weight), fruit quality, and marketability of strawberries across propagation methods (cutting vs. pinning) and cultivation systems (soil vs. hydroponic). Key outcomes included total fruit yield, unmarketable fruit ratios, and seasonal variation in fruit quality.

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