INTERACTION OF FARMYARD MANURE AND PLANT POPULATION DENSITY EFFECTS ON SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MULCHED STRAWBERRY IN A TROPICAL CLIMATE

Abstract

The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) is a perennial herbaceous plant, whose berries are principally consumed fresh or after processing into preserves, jam, jelly, juice, or flavours. Information on the influence of farmyard manure (FYM) and plant population density (PPD) on strawberry performance in the tropics is meager. The present study determined the effects of FYM and PPD on soil characteristics, growth, fruit yield and quality of mulched strawberry under tropical conditions. The experiment was laid in a split block design, replicated three times and conducted in two crop years. Farmyard manure (0, 10, 30 and 60 t/ha) formed main plots, while PPD (71,111, 53,333 and 40,000 plants/ha) formed strip plots. Parameters measured were: soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient content and temperature. Plant parameters were: leaf tissue nutrient content, chlorophyll content, number of leaves, number of runners, canopy diameter, root and shoot biomass, number of berries, weight of berries per plant and total soluble solids (TSS) per plot. The data were subjected to analysis of variance. Manure significantly (P<0.05) increased soil CEC. The 40,000 plants/ha PPD significantly raised soil temperature at 10 cm depth. The effect of interaction between FYM and PPD was significant on leaf tissue Mn content. The 60 t/ha FYM significantly (P<0.05) increased number of leaves. Plant population density significantly (P<0.05) decreased number of runners, but increased number and weight of berries. The interaction between FYM and PPD significantly (P<0.05) affected TSS. It is recommended that 53,333 to 71,111 plants/ha be adopted to realise 47% to 92% higher strawberry fruit weight. Further research is recommended to determine the FYM rate that significantly increases fruit yield.