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Effect of Polyethylene Mulch and Summer Irrigation Regimes on Subsequent Flowering and Fruiting of ‘Olympus’ Strawberry1

1982; American Society for Horticultural Science; Volume: 107; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.21273/jashs.107.3.373

2327-9788

A. Richard Renquist, Patrick J. Breen, Lloyd W. Martin,

Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies

Abstract Strawberries [ Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Olympus] were planted in 2 successive years and grown at 3 levels of drip irrigation, with and without polyethylene mulch. Differential irrigation was applied only during 1 (1977) or 2 (1978) months during the summer and all treatments were irrigated equally during the following spring. In both summers, the soil water potential at 20-cm depth was maintained above −0.5 bars for the highest level of irrigation and fell below −11 bars at the low level. Mulch conserved soil moisture at the 2 lower irrigation levels in 1977, but this effect was nearly absent in 1978 conditions. The highest irrigation regime had about 22% more flowers and 18% more fruit than the lowest regime in the spring of the first harvest season in both plantings. Mulch only increased flowering in the 1977 planting (12%), whereas the number of fruit was increased about 11% by mulch in both plantings. The high yield capacity of ‘Olympus’ was confirmed (37.8 MT/ha). Mulch increased the yield of the 1978 planting 18%, despite its lack of effect on the number of flowers in that year. This suggests a spring influence on yield. The highest irrigation regime out-yielded the lowest regime by 13% in the first crop of both plantings, although this increase was significant only in the 1977 planting. The second year crop of the 1977 planting yielded 21% less than the first year, and failed to show significant treatment differences in flower number or fruit yield despite much larger plant size with mulch and higher irrigation levels. The yield component which showed the greatest decline between years was the percentage fruit set. In general, mulch and greater summer irrigation increased fruit yield less dramatically than they enhanced vegetative growth. However, the 13% to 18% increases may represent a significant economic gain because the typical yield of ‘Olympus’ is much higher than other Pacific Northwest cultivars. Mulch also produced a greater water use efficiency.