Summary
This two-year protected cultivation trial evaluated the effects of different soilless growing substrates on strawberry cv. Chandler performance. A perlite + farmyard manure (1:1) substrate formulation yielded superior results for flowering, fruiting, and yield, with enhanced physico-chemical fruit quality metrics. Perlite alone also demonstrated effectiveness for yield and quality improvement compared to other soilless media tested.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in India under protected conditions; applicability to United Kingdom strawberry horticulture depends on local climate control capability and substrate availability. The findings on perlite-based media may be transferable to UK protected cropping systems, though regional growing conditions and cultivar performance would require local validation.
Key measures
Flower characteristics, fruit yield, total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, fruit quality parameters
Outcomes reported
The study measured flowering, yield, and fruit quality characteristics (total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars) of strawberry cv. Chandler grown in different soilless substrates under protected conditions over two consecutive years.
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