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Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, flowering and yield of strawberry (<i>Fragaria X Ananassa duch</i>) grown under greenhouse conditions in the Jordan valley


T Abu-Zahra
K Al-Ismail
F Shatat

Abstract



A greenhouse experiment was carried out during the 2004/2005 season at Abu-Ghannam\'s farm in Kreimeh in the northern Jordan Valley-Jordan, to study the effects of fermented organic matter (made from sheep manure and annual weeds) used at four rates of 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 kg/m2 in comparison to conventional system (chemical fertilizers and pesticides) on growth, flowering and yield of the strawberry cultivar Honor. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates was adopted.
The highest vegetative growth (leaves/plant, leaf area, plant fresh and dry weight) was found in the conventional treatment, while the highest root/canopy ratio was obtained by the 4.5 kg /m2 treatment. Organic matter advanced flowering date, while the conventional treatment delayed it. Runner production was not significantly affected by the type of treatment.
The conventional treatment produced the highest fruit weight, total yield per replicate, and total yield per plant.

Keywords: Strawberry; Fragaria X ananassa, vegetative growth, flowering; yield; organic, conventional

Journal of Agriculture, Science & Technology Vol. 9 (1) 2007: pp. 3-14

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eISSN: 1561-7645