Effect of different pot culture media on growth parameters, yield and economics of strawberry in vertical system

Abstract

This study evaluated the development of above ground plant parts of strawberry cv. ‘Winter dawn’, in naturally ventilated polyhouse with seven media combinations using six pot culture media viz., soil, sand, farmyard manure, cocopeat, vermicompost and vermiculite under vertical faring system. The study revealed that maximum plant height (29.13 cm), number of trifoliate leaves per plant (27.80), plant spread in North- South and East- West direction (31.27 cm and 30.21 cm, respectively), leaf area (108.26 cm2), number of crowns per plant (4.56), number of runners per plant (6.13), plant dry weight (38.50 g) at harvest, yield per plant (391.24 g), yield over control (61.12%), net income (1,22,183 ₹/ 1032 m2) and benefit to cost ratio (2.04) was observed in treatment T4 containing Soil + cocopeat + vermiculite + vermicompost in 1:1:1:1 ratio on volume basis followed by the treatment T6 containing cocopeat + vermiculite + vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1:1.