Improvement of strawberry nutrition in sandy soils by addition of manure, calcium and magnesium

Abstract

Abstract The addition of manure, gypsum, and dolomite as improvers of the organic matter, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) levels in the soils has been tested in a greenhouse experiment in order to enhance results obtained from strawberry cultivation in the southwest of Spain. The manure addition resulted in a significant increase in the Ca content in plants and decreased potassium (K). These effects were more pronounced when gypsum and dolomite were supplied together with the manure. The vitamin C content in the fruits was higher when manure was applied to the soil, whereas the reducing sugar levels in the fruits decreased.