Articles
EFFECT OF NUTRITIVE SOLUTION EC AND SHADING ON THE “FRUIT” QUALITY OF NFT-GROWN STRAWBERRY
Article number
614_107
Pages
719 – 726
Language
English
Abstract
We
report the results of research carried out in Campania in 1995/96 and 1996/97
with the aim of investigating the fruit quality of strawberry grown with the
NFT. Comparisons were made of eight electrical conductivity (EC)-levels (1.0,
1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4 mS·cm-1) of the nutritive
solutions, in factorial combination with crops arranged in pairs on double
vertical layers; a control crop was managed traditionally.
All the parameters
attained the highest values with the upper crop layer, except for nitrates and
pH which did not vary in relation to the plant position.
Among the EC
treatments, the dry and optical residues, together with the sugars and the
titratable acidity, showed an increasing trend from 1.0 to 2.4 mS·cm-1;
among the acids, citric and succinic increased very gradually, while malic did
not change.
All the analysed macronutrients attained increasing fruit
concentrations up to the 2.4 mS·cm-1 treatment, whereas
micronutrient contents were generally highest within the range 1.8-2.4 mS·cm-1.
Dry and optical residues and sucrose values recorded with hydroponics in the
upper level were significatively higher than those found in the control
fruits, whose contents of glucose and fructose were lower referring to the
highest salinity levels; by contrast, the acids were more highly concentrated
in the control berries.
Nitrates, calcium, magnesium, chloride, iron, copper
and zinc accumulated in larger amounts in the fruits obtained with the
traditional technique, whereas the control contents of phosphorus, potassium
and sulphur were intermediate with respect to the 1.0-2.4 mS·cm-1 EC
range.
Compared to the lower crop layer, the values of dry and optical residues
and sugars of the control fruits generally fell in the middle of the levels
obtained with the tested EC range.
The contents of acids and mineral ions were
often highest in the control fruits.
report the results of research carried out in Campania in 1995/96 and 1996/97
with the aim of investigating the fruit quality of strawberry grown with the
NFT. Comparisons were made of eight electrical conductivity (EC)-levels (1.0,
1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4 mS·cm-1) of the nutritive
solutions, in factorial combination with crops arranged in pairs on double
vertical layers; a control crop was managed traditionally.
All the parameters
attained the highest values with the upper crop layer, except for nitrates and
pH which did not vary in relation to the plant position.
Among the EC
treatments, the dry and optical residues, together with the sugars and the
titratable acidity, showed an increasing trend from 1.0 to 2.4 mS·cm-1;
among the acids, citric and succinic increased very gradually, while malic did
not change.
All the analysed macronutrients attained increasing fruit
concentrations up to the 2.4 mS·cm-1 treatment, whereas
micronutrient contents were generally highest within the range 1.8-2.4 mS·cm-1.
Dry and optical residues and sucrose values recorded with hydroponics in the
upper level were significatively higher than those found in the control
fruits, whose contents of glucose and fructose were lower referring to the
highest salinity levels; by contrast, the acids were more highly concentrated
in the control berries.
Nitrates, calcium, magnesium, chloride, iron, copper
and zinc accumulated in larger amounts in the fruits obtained with the
traditional technique, whereas the control contents of phosphorus, potassium
and sulphur were intermediate with respect to the 1.0-2.4 mS·cm-1 EC
range.
Compared to the lower crop layer, the values of dry and optical residues
and sugars of the control fruits generally fell in the middle of the levels
obtained with the tested EC range.
The contents of acids and mineral ions were
often highest in the control fruits.
Publication
Authors
G. Caruso, G. Villari
Keywords
Fragaria x ananassa, hydroponics, buffer concentration, double crop layer, berry chemical composition.
Online Articles (127)