Effects of Growing Substrates on the Growth, Yield, and Quality of Strawberry Cultivars Grown in a Pot Hydroponic System

초록

Substrate composition and cultivar adaptability are key factors influencing strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) growth and fruit quality in hydroponic systems. Pot cultivation enables each plant to grow separately and reduces the risk of disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of growing substrates on the growth and quality of strawberry cultivars using a pot hydroponic system. The strawberry cultivars (Sulhyang, Kuemsil, and Santa) were grown in three substrates: biochar (T1), coir dust (T2), and artificial substrate (T3) from September 2022 to March 2023 in a greenhouse. Strawberry seedlings were transplanted into plastic pots, having four cells (L 13 x W 20 x H 15 cm), with two plants per cell. Irrigation was periodically adjusted, and all substrates received equal volumes of nutrient solution. The results showed that growth characteristics, including plant height, leaf width, and crown diameter, were significantly different among the cultivars. The leaf titratable acidity (TA) varied significantly among the cultivars, while leaf electrical conductivity (EC) differed significantly based on the substrates. Fruit number, fruit weight, yield, soluble solid content (SSC), and fruit firmness were higher for Sulhyang in T3 substrate and Kuemsil and Santa cultivars in T2 substrate, whereas they showed the lowest fruit TA. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that leaf EC, leaf TA, fruit SSC, and fruit firmness were strongly associated with Sulhyang cultivated in artificial substrate, as well as Kuemsil and Santa cultivated in coir dust treatments.

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