Vol. 126 (2013): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Vegetable

Evaluation of Early Nitrogen Rates on Strawberry Cultivars

Bielinski Santos
University of Florida, IFAS, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 14625 CR 672, Wimauma, FL 33598

Published 2013-12-01

Keywords

  • Fragaria ×ananassa,
  • cultural practices,
  • fertilization,
  • plant nutrition,
  • macronutrients

Abstract

A study was conducted over two seasons to determine the effects of four early N application rates (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 lb/acre per day during the first 10 d after transplanting; 1 acre = 10,890 linear bed feet/acre) on the yields of two strawberry cultivars (‘Strawberry Festival’, a vigorous cultivar, and ‘Florida Radiance’, a compact-growth habit cultivar). The interaction between early N rate and cultivar was significant for early and total marketable fruit numbers and weights. Early fruit number of ‘Florida Radiance’ sharply increased when initial N rate was increased from 0 to 0.5 lb/acre per day and remained constant with higher early N rates. In contrast, ‘Strawberry Festival’ early fruit number steadily increased with early N rates between 0 and 1.0 lb/acre per day. There was no early fruit number difference for plots receiving N at 1.0 or 1.5 lb/acre per day. Total marketable fruit number followed similar trends as those of early fruit number. Early and total marketable fruit weights of ‘Strawberry Festival’ sharply increased when N fertilization was increased from 0 to 1.0 lb/acre per day. However, increasing early N rates from 1.0 to 1.5 lb/acre per day failed to enhance early fruit weight in ‘Strawberry Festival’. In contrast, a daily N rate of only 0.5 lb/acre increased ‘Florida Radiance’ early fruit weight. These results suggest that early N fertilization programs should be tailored to the strawberry cultivar planted.