Impact of vermicompost and seaweed extract on Strawberry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65421/jibas.v2i4.219Keywords:
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), seaweed extract, vermicompost, vegetative growth, yield, chemical compositionAbstract
A field experiment was conducted in 2024 at the private farm of Tajoura-Libya. It involved applying vermicompost and foliar spraying seaweed extracts on the strawberry crop variety "Festival" that was produced under experimental conditions. On October 15, 2023, strawberry seeds were sown. On December 15, 2023, the first spray of seaweed extracts and vermicompost was applied. The final spray was applied on April 1, 2024, while the second one was completed on December 25, 2023. Ten treatments were applied, and the experimental treatments were controlled using a split plot design with three repetitions. The following is the arrangement of the applied treatments:Seaweed extracts at concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg/l as a subplot and vermicompost at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 t/ha as the main plot. Plant height, number of leaves per plant, total chlorophyll, dry weight per plant, crown diameter, number of flowers, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, yield per plant, TSS, acidity, total sugars, vitamin C, anthocyanin, carbohydrates, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were all examined. Vermi-compost concentration at 2 t/ha recorded the highest values of plant height, number of leaves/plant, total chlorophyll, dry weight/plant, crown diameter, number of flowers, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, yield/plant, TSS, total sugars, vitamin C, anthocyanin, carbohydrates, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Additionally, seaweed extracts at a concentration of 2000 mg/l showed higher values of these features than the control treatment, which showed lower values,
whereas the control treatment had the highest acidity levels. In conclusion, standardized testing, extraction, and analysis methods are necessary to compare different fertilizers. This research will surely help us understand the organic strawberry farming package as a holistic and sustainable strategy to improve soil health and increase the yield and profitability of high-quality fruits.
