Investigation of the Quantity and Quality of Strawberry Fruit (cv. Aromas) in Different Harvesting Periods as Affected by Culture Medium and Humic Acid

Culture medium and nutrition are two important factors in determining the quantity and quality of greenhouse products. Accordingly, a factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design on strawberry (cv. Aromas) in the greenhouse of Department of Horticulture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran. The first factor was two culture media (mixture of perlite and cocopeat with equal volumetric percent, and pumice). The second factor was three concentrations of humic acid (0, 300 and 600 mg/L). The third factor was harvesting period. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the fruits were evaluated in different harvesting periods. Results indicated that yield and qualitative characteristics of fruits were highly influenced by culture medium and humic acid. The highest average fruit yields were obtained in perlite-cocopeat medium (107 g/plant) and pumice medium (85.4 g/plant) from plants treated with 600 mg/L humic acid. The highest average fruit firmness (6 N), total soluble solids (6.19%) and soluble carbohydrate (58 mg/100 g fresh weight) were obtained in plants grown in pumice medium and fed with 600 mg/L humic acid and the highest average phenol (113 mg gallic acid/100g fresh weigth ) and vitamin C (34 mg/100 g fresh weight) were obtained from plants grown in perlite-cocopeat medium and fed with 600 mg/L humic acid. In general, and based on total measured traits, perlite-cocopeat medium, fed with 600 mg/L humic acid as fertigation method, is recommended for favorable quantitative and qualitative production of strawberry (cv. Aromas).