Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) Plant Productivity Quality in Relation to Soil Depth and Water Requirements

Abstract

The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.), a member of the Rosaceae, is the most important soft fruit worldwide. The effect soil types and depth on strawberry yield in a greenhouse as well as its association with water management are still not well known. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different soil depth and water requirements on strawberry plant yield and quality in a greenhouse. The experiment was carried in a greenhouse at Thennaba farm, Tulkarm, located in the West Bank, Palestine during the autumn and spring seasons of 2012/2013. The experimental design was a completely randomized design included two groups (Set A & Set B) in the green house half dunum (10 dunum = 1ha) for each Set, contains 20 rows and 3000 plants with two different soil depths 15 and 7 cm for A and B, respectively. The results showed that the strawberry plant productivity was higher in set (B) with 7 cm soil depth: was 2115 kg in comparing with set (A) 15 cm soil depth: was 1645 kg for the agricultural season. The water requirements was higher in set (A) (314 m 3 / agricultural season) in comparison with Set (B) (193 m 3 / agricultural season) during the nine months of agriculture period. It means that the soil depth gives directly effects on water requirements.