The Influence of Container Types and Potting Media on the Biometric, Phenological and Yield Parameters of Strawberry Cv. Winter Dawn

Abstract

Strawberry being an annual herbaceous plant with delicious fruit can be easily grown in a container filled with a potting media and suitable for growing in terrace garden or rooftop gardening in urban areas where the area for cultivation is less. This intends to augment the farmer’s income and increase the overall production of strawberry. The study was conducted in the experimental field, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.) during 2023-2024. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of container types and potting media on the biometric, phenological and yield parameters of strawberry cv. Winter Dawn. The experiment was laid out according to a factorial completely randomized block design. Observations on the biometric, phenological, and yield parameters of each plant were recorded during the study. The result of the statistical analysis revealed that among all the combinations of potting media, the combination of cocopeat, perlite and vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1:2 was found to be superior. Better biometric, phenological, and yield parameters were observed in plants grown in earthen pots. Based on the interaction effect, plants raised in PVC pots with a growing media ratio of 1:1:2 cocopeat + perlite + vermicompost (C2M1) result in maximum plant height (18.10 cm), plant spread (16.10 cm), number of leaves (26.67), number of fruits per plant (15.91) and total yield per plant (341.00 g). The study revealed that the minimum days to initiate first flower (47.10), flowering to harvest duration (27.67) and days to first fruiting (68.13) was reported in C2M1: PVC pots {(cocopeat + Perlite + Vermicompost) (1:1:2)}. Thus, strawberry production using cocopeat + perlite + vermicompost in 1:1:2 ratio in PVC Pots will ensure greater success in plant establishment and produce healthy and disease-free strawberries.