Biostimulatory Role of Seaweed Extract and Potassium Silicate in Enhancing Yield and Quality Traits of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Camarosa under Semi-Arid Punjab Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2025-26 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab, to evaluate the effects of foliar-applied seaweed extract and potassium silicate on the growth, flowering, yield and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Camarosa. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with eight treatments and three replications. Treatments included water spray, seaweed extract at 10, 20 and 50 g per 3 L, potassium silicate at 20 g per 3 L, and their combinations. Four foliar sprays were applied at 20-day intervals beginning 20 days after planting. The combined application of seaweed extract at 50 g with potassium silicate at 20 g per 3 L produced the strongest overall response among the treatments. It recorded maximum plant height (25.16 cm), plant spread in the N-S (30.01 cm) and E-W (31.01 cm) directions, number of leaves per plant (25.00), leaf area (73.57 cm²), number of flowers per plant (26.73), total sugars (7.86%), reducing sugars (4.85%), total phenols (69.10 mg 100 g⁻¹), ascorbic acid (54.35 mg 100 g⁻¹) and yield per plant (452.38 g), with the lowest titratable acidity (0.633%). The results indicate that combined foliar application of seaweed extract and potassium silicate may improve growth, yield-related traits and fruit quality of strawberry cv. Camarosa under comparable semi-arid field conditions.