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Subraya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (6): 1704-1707 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5018 ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (6): 1704-1707 (2017)
Research Article

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield and Quality of

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) Under Naturally
Ventilated Polyhouse Condition

Subraya, B. K.1, Madaiah, D.2 and Dinesh Kumar, M.3*

1
M.Sc. Scholar, 2Professor and Head, Department of Post Harvest Technology,
3
Professor and Head Department of Agronomy,
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, UAHS, Shivamogga, Mudigere - Karnataka, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected]
Received: 21.06.2017 | Revised: 29.07.2017 | Accepted: 5.08.2017

ABSTRACT
Study was carried out to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and
quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse
condition it involved ten treatments with three replications in Randomized Complete Block
Design conducted at Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Mudigere, during
2014-2015. Yield components and quality parameters like per cent fruit set, number of fruits per
plant, number of fruits per cluster, fruit characters, yield per plant (304.73 g plant-1), non
reducing sugars, total sugars, sugar to acid ratio, TSS and ascorbic acid content were found
maximum under the treatment 100% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB whereas, the maximum fruit
weight (15.68 g), fruit length (3.61 cm) and reducing sugars (5.02%) with moderate yield per
plant (299.95 g ) were recorded in the treatment 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB.. Application
of 60:40:40 kg NPK ha-1 along with Azospirillum and PSB found ideal to get high yields with
good quality, thereby saving 25 per cent of inorganic fertilizers.
Key words: Azospirillum, Integrated Nutrient Management, Strawberry and Yield

INTRODUCTION of edible portion), fiber with high pectin

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), a content (0.55%) available in the form of
herbaceous perennial member of Rosaceae, is calcium pectate, which serve as an excellent
a widely relished fruit owing to its flavour, ingredients for jelly making 1. The crop is in
deliciousness, softness and rich source of great demand for fresh fruits as well in the
mineral and nutrients. Nutritionally, processing industries, particularly for flavour
strawberry fruit contains low calorie purposes. Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana,
carbohydrate, rich in vitamin A (60 IU/100 g Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand are the
of edible portion), vitamin C (30-120mg/100 g major states for its cultivation.

Cite this article: Subraya, B.K., Madaiah, D. and Kumar, D.M., Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management
on Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) Under Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse
Condition, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5(6): 1704-1707 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-
7051.5018

Copyright © Nov.-Dec., 2017; IJPAB 1704

Subraya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (6): 1704-1707 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
In order to harvest higher yields and quality runners of one year old were transplanted on
fruits, use of chemical fertilizers has raised beds in the month of September 2014.
contributed significantly. However, continuous The recommended dose of fertilizers and
and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers manures for strawberry are 80:40:40 kg NPK
caused serious damage to the soil ecosystem and FYM @ 20 tonnes per hectare. All
and physico-chemical characteristics. treatments received same level of FYM. Well
Although, many organic options are available decomposed FYM was applied 21 days before
but high yield and better quality fruits cannot planting while 50 per cent of nitrogen and full
be expected from the sole application of dose of phosphorus and potassium were
organic manures or biological products. applied as basal while remaining 50 per cent of
Therefore, a judicious combination of nitrogen was made available at the time of
inorganic and organic fertilizers along with flower initiation. Bio-fertilizers were procured
bio-fertilizers may be helpful in increasing the from Department of Microbiology, University
fruit production in strawberry. Moreover, such of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru.
efforts shall be helpful to maintain sustainable The bio-fertilizers at the rate of 5 kg ha-1 were
productivity and soil health. Amongst various mixed with part of original quantity of FYM
available organic options, bio-fertilizers are 10 days prior to field application to enable
agriculturally important beneficial multiplication of micro organisms. The
microorganisms which have ability to mobilize recommended doses of NPK were applied in
the nutritionally important elements. the form of urea, rock phosphate and muriate
Moreover, they are cost effective and of potash, respectively. After transplanting, the
renewable. Bio-fertilizers are known to raised beds were completely mulched with
increase the yield of strawberry 2. In view of dried paddy straw.
the above, the present investigation was Observations on yield parameters like
undertaken to study the effect of integrated per cent fruit set, number of fruits per plant,
nutrient management, with an emphasis on number of fruits per cluster, fruit weight (g),
bio-fertilizers, on yield and quality of fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), fruit
strawberry under naturally ventilated poly volume (ml) and yield per plant (g) were
house condition. recorded using standard methods. The TSS
was recorded with the extracted fruit juice
MATERIAL AND METHODS using a digital hand refractrometer at room
The present study was conducted in naturally temperature and expressed in 0Brix. The
ventilated polyhouse of Fruit Science reducing sugars, non reducing sugars and total
Department, College of Horticulture, sugars were estimated using the method
Mudigere, during 2014-2015. A total of ten suggested by 3. Ascorbic acid and Titratable
treatments were replicated three times in acidity were determined by titration method as
Randomized Complete Block Design having per the modified procedure of A.O.A.C.4.
plot size 1.8 m x 0.9 m accommodating 18
plants in each plot at a spacing of 30 cm x 30 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
cm. The ten treatment combinations were as Different INM treatments in test influenced
follows viz., T1 - Control (100% RDF), T2 - yield parameters positively (Table 1). The
100% RDF + Azospirillum, T3 - 100% RDF + strawberry plants provided with 100% RDF +
PSB, T4 - 100% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB, Azospirillum + PSB produced maximum per
T5 - 75% RDF + Azospirillum, T6 - 75% RDF cent fruit set (75.75), number of fruits per
+ PSB, T7 - 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB, plant (21.47), number of fruits per cluster
T8 - 50% RDF + Azospirillum, T9 - 50% RDF (6.26), fruit width (2.56 cm), fruit volume
+ PSB and T10 - 50% RDF + Azospirillum + (20.39 ml) and yield per plant (304.73 g) but
PSB. The strawberry variety “sujatha” was found stastically on par with the treatment
used for experimentation. The uniform sized 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB. Fruit weight
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 Subraya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (6): 1704-1707 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
(15.68 g) and fruit length (3.61 cm) were during ripening of fruits the carbohydrate
found maximum in the treatment 75% RDF + reserves of the roots and stem are drawn upon
Azospirillum + PSB (Table 1). The increase in heavily by fruits which might have resulted
per cent fruit set and number of fruits per plant into higher TSS and sugar contents in fruits 7.
with the application of either 75% or 100% Due to increase in total sugars, sugar to acid
RDF + Azospirillum + PSB might be due ratio was found maximum. The current
increased phosphorus availability through findings are in line with the findings of 6,8
phospho bacteria and IAA from Azospirillum and9.
leading to increased endogenous hormonal The minimum titratable acidity (0.63)
levels in plant tissue making responsible for was recorded in the treatment 100% RDF +
enhanced pollen germination and pollen tube Azospirillum + PSB which was on par with
formation ultimately helping increased fruit set 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB (0.65). The
and number of fruits per plant 5. Fruit reduction in titratable acidity may be attributed
characters such as length, width, volume and to the conversion of the organic acids and
weight may be attributed to better fillings of photosynthates into sugar during fruit ripening
fruits due to more balanced uptake of nutrients by applying biofertilizers and further
that have led to better metabolic activities, thus utilization of acids as a substrate for
led to high protein and carbohydrate respiration during ripening and neutralization
synthesis6. The increased fruit set percentage of organic acids due to potassium in tissues10.
and number of fruits per plant ultimately The studies emphasize the application
results in increase in yield. of 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB as best
Significant difference was observed treatment in terms of better yield and quality
between the treatments with respect to quality of strawberry. It is worthy to note that using
parameters (Table 2). The maximum reducing inorganic fertilizers at the rate of 75%
sugars, non reducing sugars, total sugars, total recommended dose with bio-fertilizers and
soluble solids, ascorbic acid content and sugar organic manure had a similar effect with that
to acid ratio were recorded in the treatments of inorganic fertilizers at the rate of 100%
either 75% or 100% RDF + Azospirillum + recommended dose with bio-fertilizers and
PSB. The increase in TSS and total sugars may organic manure. Hence, it could be concluded
be attributed to absorption of nitrogen exerted that, by using bio-fertilizer can reduce 25% of
regulatory role as an important constituent of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer
endogenous factors in affecting the quality of application.
fruit in which carbohydrate is important and

Table 1: Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield parameters of strawberry

Yield parameters
Number
Number of Fruit Fruit Yield per
Per cent of fruits Fruit volume Fruit length
Treatments fruits per weight width plant (g)
fruit set per (ml) (cm)
plant (g) (cm)
cluster
T1 - Control (100% RDF) 69.94 15.20 4.33 12.17 18.03 3.20 2.15 184.98
T2 - 100% RDF +
71.46 16.73 5.33 13.83 18.91 3.47 2.33 231.37
Azospirillum
T3 - 100% RDF + PSB 70.28 15.73 5.00 14.14 18.87 3.42 2.29 222.42
T4 - 100% RDF +
75.75 21.47 6.26 14.20 20.39 3.58 2.56 304.73
Azospirillum + PSB
T5 - 75% RDF +
69.14 15.33 4.86 13.44 18.66 3.26 2.24 206.03
Azospirillum
T6 - 75% RDF + PSB 69.15 15.20 4.56 13.02 18.45 3.21 2.18 197.90
T7 - 75% RDF + Azospirillum
73.74 19.13 5.73 15.68 20.34 3.61 2.48 299.95
+ PSB
T8 - 50% RDF + Azospirillum 65.84 13.40 3.56 11.94 17.40 3.10 2.08 159.99
T9- 50% RDF + PSB 68.33 14.20 3.10 10.88 17.35 3.06 2.13 154.49
T10- 50% RDF +
68.38 14.60 4.16 11.87 17.91 3.15 2.18 173.30
Azospirillum + PSB
S.Em± 1.00 0.89 0.40 0.65 0.044 0.02 0.02 3.76
CD @ 5% 2.98 2.64 0.68 1.92 0.021 0.05 0.07 11.16
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 Subraya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (6): 1704-1707 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Table 2: Effect of integrated nutrient management on quality parameters of strawberry
Quality parameters
Non Total Ascorbic acid
Reducing Titratable Sugar-acid TSS
Treatments reducing sugars content
sugars (%) acidity (%) ratio (0Brix)
sugars (%) (%) (mg/ 100 g)
T1 - Control (100% RDF) 4.67 1.07 5.74 0.77 7.45 6.23 50.22
T2 - 100% RDF +
4.85 1.17 6.02 0.66 9.12 7.60 56.24
Azospirillum
T3 - 100% RDF + PSB 4.74 1.13 5.87 0.67 8.76 7.45 55.91
T4 - 100% RDF +
4.95 1.40 6.35 0.63 10.07 8.45 60.51
Azospirillum + PSB
T5 - 75% RDF +
4.94 1.17 6.11 0.68 8.98 7.74 56.85
Azospirillum
T6 - 75% RDF + PSB 4.81 1.12 5.93 0.70 8.47 7.83 57.11
T7 - 75% RDF +
5.02 1.21 6.23 0.65 9.58 8.13 59.16
Azospirillum + PSB
T8 - 50% RDF +
3.90 0.96 4.86 0.80 6.07 6.13 53.21
Azospirillum
T9- 50% RDF + PSB 4.10 0.94 5.04 0.88 5.72 6.47 53.17
T10- 50% RDF +
4.58 0.98 5.56 0.75 7.41 6.26 54.17
Azospirillum + PSB
S.Em± 0.04 0.10 0.08 0.01 0.39 0.09 0.80
CD @ 5% 0.11 0.21 0.23 0.02 0.68 0.26 2.37

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