Articles
Production of day-neutral strawberry under tunnel protection in North Dakota
Article number
1444_28
Pages
211 – 218
Language
English
Abstract
The production of day-neutral strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) under tunnel protection has the potential to extend the growing season and increase economic benefits for growers in North Dakota and northern regions between 46°N and 49°N. The objective of this research was to evaluate the production of six day-neutral strawberry cultivars (‘Fort Laramie’, ‘Evie-II’, ‘Albion’, ‘Portola’, ‘San Andreas’, and ‘Seascape’) under three environments (high tunnel, low tunnels, and open field). Bare-root plants were transplanted in the spring of 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the annual production cycles. ‘Portola’ and ‘San Andreas’ had poor transplant survival in both years and were removed from the data analyses.
A three-way interaction was observed among year, environment, and cultivar for the measured yield parameters.
This was attributed to the extremely hot 2022 and cultivar responses to the high temperatures within each environment. ‘Albion’ had the greatest total and marketable yields in 2021, but this was only greater than the total and marketable yields for ‘Albion’ and ‘Seascape’ in 2022. Strawberries grown in low tunnels had the greatest total and marketable yields in 2021, but this was only greater than the total and marketable yields achieved when strawberries were grown in the high tunnel and open field in 2022. ‘Evie II’ fruit was less sweet in 2022 compared to 2021, while ‘Seascape’ fruit was less sweet in 2021 compared to 2022. Plants in the high tunnel or grown in the open field produced sweeter fruit when compared to fruit from plants in the low tunnels.
Fruit TA was higher for ‘Albion’, ‘Fort Laramie’, and ‘Seascape’ in 2022 compared to fruit TA from the same cultivars in 2021, and plants grown in the high tunnel produced fruit with a higher TA percentage.
Fruit had a higher pH in 2021 than 2022 and fruit from ‘Seascape’ or ‘Albion’ had lower pH compared to fruit from ‘Evie II’ or ‘Fort Laramie’ Overall, the experiment suggested that even though the tunnels extended the season in the early spring and late fall, this period may not be long enough to increase the day-neutral strawberry yield when grown in North Dakota.
A three-way interaction was observed among year, environment, and cultivar for the measured yield parameters.
This was attributed to the extremely hot 2022 and cultivar responses to the high temperatures within each environment. ‘Albion’ had the greatest total and marketable yields in 2021, but this was only greater than the total and marketable yields for ‘Albion’ and ‘Seascape’ in 2022. Strawberries grown in low tunnels had the greatest total and marketable yields in 2021, but this was only greater than the total and marketable yields achieved when strawberries were grown in the high tunnel and open field in 2022. ‘Evie II’ fruit was less sweet in 2022 compared to 2021, while ‘Seascape’ fruit was less sweet in 2021 compared to 2022. Plants in the high tunnel or grown in the open field produced sweeter fruit when compared to fruit from plants in the low tunnels.
Fruit TA was higher for ‘Albion’, ‘Fort Laramie’, and ‘Seascape’ in 2022 compared to fruit TA from the same cultivars in 2021, and plants grown in the high tunnel produced fruit with a higher TA percentage.
Fruit had a higher pH in 2021 than 2022 and fruit from ‘Seascape’ or ‘Albion’ had lower pH compared to fruit from ‘Evie II’ or ‘Fort Laramie’ Overall, the experiment suggested that even though the tunnels extended the season in the early spring and late fall, this period may not be long enough to increase the day-neutral strawberry yield when grown in North Dakota.
Authors
M. Mzumara, H. Hatterman-Valenti
Keywords
yield, fruit quality, low tunnels, high tunnel, open field
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
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