Summary
This controlled greenhouse trial compared three strawberry cultivars (Sulhyang, Kuemsil, and Santa) grown in pot hydroponic systems using three substrates: biochar, coir dust, and artificial substrate. Results demonstrated that substrate choice significantly influenced fruit yield and quality metrics, with artificial substrate optimising performance for Sulhyang and coir dust performing best for Kuemsil and Santa cultivars. Principal component analysis identified strong associations between specific substrate-cultivar combinations and key quality traits including soluble solid content and fruit firmness.
Regional applicability
Whilst this study was conducted in South Korean greenhouse conditions, the findings on substrate-cultivar interaction for hydroponic strawberry production are broadly applicable to United Kingdom glasshouse and protected cropping operations. Adaptation would be necessary to account for different seasonal light availability and heating/cooling requirements in UK climates, but the methodology and substrate options tested are directly relevant to UK horticulture.
Key measures
Plant height, leaf width, crown diameter, leaf electrical conductivity, leaf titratable acidity, fruit number, fruit weight, yield, soluble solid content (SSC), fruit firmness, and fruit titratable acidity
Outcomes reported
The study evaluated growth characteristics, fruit yield, and fruit quality (including soluble solid content, firmness, and titratable acidity) across three strawberry cultivars grown in three different substrates using a pot hydroponic system. Performance varied significantly by cultivar-substrate combination, with specific substrates optimising yield and quality traits for each cultivar.
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