Effect of Organic Manure and Biofertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch) CV. Sweet Charlie

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananasa Duch.) is an important fruit of the genus Fragaria and belongs of the family Rosaceae. Adoption of Strawberry even under subtropical condition is gaining momentum. However, standardization of agro-techniques for the cultivation of Strawberry still needs to be stimulated under sub- tropical conditions to enhance production and maintain the quality at the same time. The present investigation entitled “Effect of Organic Manure and Biofertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) cv Sweet Charlie” was conducted at Research field, Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, ITM University Gwalior (M.P.) during the winter season of 2015-16. The experiment comprised of seven treatments viz. T1-control, T2- 100% FYM, T3-100% Poultry Manure, T4- 100% Vermicompost, T5- 50% Vermicompost + 50% Poultry Manure, T6- 50% Vermicompost + 50% FYM, T7 - 50% Poultry Manure + 50% FYM, T8- 50% Vermicompost + 50% Poultry Manure + Azotobacter, T9- 50% Vermicompost + 50% FYM + Azotobacter, and T10- 50% Poultry Manure + 50% FYM + Azotobacter, used as organic manure and biofertilizers. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design replications. The results revealed that the treatment T8 - 50% Vermicompost + 50% Poultry Manure + Azotobacter was found to be the best among the various treatment and recorded maximum plant height (19.61 cm), number of leaves (21.11), plant spread (24.54), number of flowers (30.41plant-1), number of fruit (12.41 plant-1), fruit length (3.70 cm), fruit width ( 3.20cm ), fruit weight (11.83 g).The treatment also recorded the maximum fruit yield ( 144.77 g plant -1, 2.32 kg plot-1, and 7.72 t ha-1) which was followed by T9 - 50% Vermicompost + 50% FYM + Azotobacter.