Abstract:

To investigate the effects of four different composite substrates on the plant growth and fruit quality of strawberry cultivar Benihoppe, this study utilized common agricultural wastes such as mushroom residue, coconut bran and vinegar lees to mix with peat, perlite and vermiculite in a composite substrate, according to the demand of substrate characteristics for strawberry plant growth,then compared their effects on the plant growth and fruit quality of strawberry cultivar Benihoppe. These substrates were peat∶perlite∶vermiculite=60∶20∶20 (T1); coconut bran∶peat∶vermiculite∶perlite=50∶40∶5∶5 (T2); mushroom residue∶peat∶vermiculite∶perlite=40∶30∶15∶15 (T3); vinegar lees∶peat∶vermiculite∶perlite=60∶20∶10∶10 (T4). The results showed that there was no significant difference in plant morphology among T1, T2, and T3 treatment, while the leaf length, leaf width, and plant height of T4 treatment were significantly lower than T1 treatment; In terms of phenology, the fruit ripening period of T3 treatment was earlier than the other three treatments for 8-11 days; In terms of fruit yield and quality, T1 treatment had the highest single plant yield and soluble solid content, while T2 treatment had the highest average single fruit weight and lowest total acid content. The fruit hardness of T3 treatment was significantly lower than other treatments, but its soluble solid content was similar to T1, and significantly higher than T2 and T4. T4 treatment had the highest hardness and total acid content, but had the lowest single plant yield, single fruit weight, and soluble solid content. Therefore, coconut bran and mushroom residue can replace some peat, especially the T3 composite substrate has good application prospects in precocious cultivation.

Key words: strawberry, substrate, plant morphology, phenology, fruit quality