Response of INM on Growth, Yield Attributes and Yield of Strawberry cv. Winter Dawn under Semi-arid Region of Haryana, India

Abstract

Strawberry cultivation requires balanced and sustainable nutrient management, where integrated use of biofertilizers, humic acid, and inorganic fertilizers enhances growth, yield, fruit quality, and soil health. The present investigation was carried out during the winter season of 2023–24 at the Crop Research Centre, Kaliwas Farm, SGT University, Gurugram (Haryana). The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different combinations of inorganic fertilizers, Azotobacter, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and humic acid on the growth, physiology, flowering, fruit quality, and yield of strawberry cv. Winter Dawn. Eight treatment combinations, including control, RDF alone, and various biofertilizer and humic acid integrations, were evaluated under a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Results revealed that integrated nutrient treatments significantly enhanced vegetative growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and plant spread. Physiological traits, particularly chlorophyll content, improved remarkably under INM, indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. Reproductive parameters, including number of runners, days to first flowering, fruit set percentage, and fruit number per plant, showed notable improvement with the application of biofertilizers and humic acid. Fruit physical characteristics (length, width, weight, and volume) also improved progressively with enhanced nutrient combinations. The highest fruit yield per plant (575.50 g) and per hectare (12.11 t/ha) were obtained under T₈ (RDF 100% + Azotobacter + PSB + 2% humic acid), establishing it as the most effective INM treatment. The overall findings suggest that integrated nutrient management that combines chemical fertilizers with biological and organic sources enhances strawberry growth, productivity, and quality, and contributes to sustainable soil health.