Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fertilizer, fertigation rate and flower bud induction techniques on the growth of strawberry runners, productivity and quality produced in the Nahaew District, Loei Province. In addition, capital investment and income for strawberry plantation were analyzed. Four strawberry cultivars, B5, Toyonoka, hybrid line BQ and QN were used in this study. Fertilizer (14-7-32) was applied at the rate of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 g/plant whereas fertilizer (10-6-22) was applied at 0.075 g/plant for comparison . Monitored parameters were as follows : growth, number of fruits, total soluble solid (TSS), firmness and disease incidence. Experiments were arranged in a 4x4 factorial design and the data was analysed using SAS software. The results showed that the maximum productivity and the maximum quality of strawberries in terms of TSS, firmness and disease incident were obtained under the fertigation rate (14-7-32) of 0.05 g /plant. An analysis of chemical elements in strawberry leaves showed that phosphorus(P) and potassium (K) concentations dramatically decreased after 5 months of plantation, indicating the use of an inappropriate fertilizer and fertigation rate for strawberry plantation. Therefore the suitable fertigation program in this area should be as follows : applying 14-7-32 at 0.05 g/plant in December and January , followed by either 0:0:1 or 0:1:2 at 0.05 g/plant in February and March. For the study of flower bud induction techniques, a short day method were used with this technique, the runner plants provided from both the Phetchaboon Research station and the Huag Nam Pak village were planted in the polyethylene bags containing soil and put in the green house shaded by black plastic from 4 PM. to 8 AM. For the control, the runners obtained from the Phetchaboon Research station and the Huag Nam Pak village, Nahaew District, Loei Provience, were grown in the bag containing soil and in the field , respectively, under natural conditions. For the flower bud induced runner from the Phetchaboon Research station, quality of all strawberry varieties treated by the short day method were not significantly different from the controls one (p>0.05). However, their growth and quality of the Toyonoga cultivar, where their flower buds were induced at Nahaew District, Loei Provience, were significantly higher than those of the B5 cultivar. The highest productivity was obtained from the Toyonoka cultivar treated with the short day method. From the analysis of the economic costs , it was found that the production cost, income and benefit from strawberry plantation obtained in 2002/2003 were 21,900, 23,450 and 1,550 baht / family / season,resprectively.