Accumulation of Nutrients by Strawberry Plants and Fruit Grown in Annual Hill Culture1

Abstract

Abstract The accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B were determined at transplanting, first flowering, first harvest, middle of harvest season, and end of harvest season to ascertain the extent and the pattern of plant nutrient uptake in strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). The plants were grown with the annual hill cultural system and mulched with polyethylene. More accumulation of each element occurred during harvest than before that time. Excluding harvested fruit, leaves accumulated the most N, P, K, and Mg; the roots and crown the most Fe and Zn, while the dead material accumulated the most Ca. Harvested fruit accumulated more N, P, K, and B than did the plant. The caluclated average seasonal accumulation of the 9 elements in the plant and in the harvested fruit during the 2 seasons in kg/ha were: K 63.1, N 58.6, Ca 30.8, P 9.4, Mg 7.8, Fe 0.456, Mn 0.161, Zn 0.088, and B 0.077.