A long-term experiment to study the role of mulches in the physiology and macro-nutrition of strawberry grown under water stress

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) cv. ‘Oso Grande’ was grown in the field from July 1999 to May 2000 in order to investigate the effectiveness of different mulch types on fruit yield, quality (i.e. soluble dry matter, fruit size), leaf nutrient compositions, and normal plant growth parameters in strawberry grown under water stress. Treatments were: (1) bare soil + water stressed (WS), (2) bare soil + unstressed (control), (3) black polyethylene mulch + water stressed (BPM + WS), (4) wheat straw mulch + water stressed (WSM + WS), (5) wheat straw mulch plus black polyethylene mulch + water stressed (WSM + BPM + WS). Water stress was created by irrigating plants once every 3 days at 50% A pan (Epan) evaporation, compared with the control, which received 75% daily. WS caused reductions in all parameters, except water-soluble dry matter concentrations in fruits, compared with the control treatment. Both BPM and WSM improved the fruit yield, fruit size, plant dry matter, leaf area index, and chlorophyll concentrations in leaves in the stressed treatments, while these 2 mulches in combination (BPM + WSM) caused further increases in these parameters. WS enhanced electrolyte leakage by impairing membrane permeability compared with control treatment. Mulching, especially BPM and WSM together, substantially decreased electrolyte leakage. WS reduced leaf concentrations of all nutrients tested (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg). However, mulching, especially BPM and WSM together, enhanced the concentrations of these nutrients, but their concentrations were still lower than those in the control treatment. These results clearly indicate that mulching mitigates negative effects of water stress on plant growth and fruit yield in field-grown strawberry, particularly in semi-arid situations.

Sweetpotato Responses to Mid‐ and Late‐Season Soil Moisture Deficits

“…Our results indicate a marked decrease of the total chlorophyll content and increase in carotenoid synthesis (Fig. Further, our results are in agreement with other crops such as eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) (Kirnak et al, 2001), kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa C.F. Similar results were found in olive (Olea europaea L.) when subjected to four ET-based irrigation treatments (Doupis et al, 2013).…”

“…According to Smirnoff (1993) and Brito et al (2003), the decline in chlorophyll content with soil moisture deficit could be attributed to chlorophyll degradation or decreased synthesis of chlorophyll, together with changes of thylakoid membrane structure. Further, our results are in agreement with other crops such as eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) (Kirnak et al, 2001), kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa C.F. Liang & A.R.…”

“…7). A similar trend was reported for eggplants, with a marked increase in electrolyte leakage resulting in low CMT under drought stress compared with a well-watered control (Kirnak et al, 2001). We noticed a decrease in chlorophyll stability at a rate of 8% MPa -1 (Fig.…”

“…Electrolyte leakage from leaf tissues is another key approach to assess membrane stability of plants to water deficit conditions. A similar trend was reported for eggplants, with a marked increase in electrolyte leakage resulting in low CMT under drought stress compared with a well-watered control (Kirnak et al, 2001). Severe water stress affects cellular membrane integrity, which results in a loss of aqueous solution and affects various physiological processes including photosynthesis.…”

Manipulating the taste-related composition of strawberry fruits (Fragaria×ananassa) from different cultivars using deficit irrigation

“…2b). Previous studies also showed that fruit from strawberry plants that received full irrigation had a higher water content and greater berry fresh weight than fruits from plants grown under reduced irrigation (Blatt, 1984;Kirnak, Kaya, Higgs, & Gercek, 2001;Kirnak et al, 2003;Krüger et al, 1999;Liu et al, 2007;Serrano et al, 1992;Terry, Chope, et al, 2007). Fruits from cv.…”