Evaluation of Growth, Development and Yield of Strawberry as Influenced by Different

Mulching Materials

Authors with full address and institution

Joydeb Gomasta, MS in Horticulture, Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural

University, Cell-+8801739-856825, email- joydebgomasta@gmail.com

Pronita Mondal, MS in Entomology, Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural

University, Cell-+8801718-768780, email- pronita.ku@gmail.com

Md. Ferdous Mondal, Professor, Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural

University, Cell-+8801715-248698, email- ferdous_mondal@ymail.com

Ashraful Alam, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Patuakhali Science and
Technology University, Cell-+8801717-285752, email- ashraful7@gmail.com
Abstract

An experiment was undertaken with strawberry cultivation by applying different mulching

materials to evaluate the influence of mulching materials on the growth, development and yield
of strawberry. Three different mulch materials viz., rice straw, water hyacinth and black
polythene along with control (no mulch) were applied in each of two varieties viz., RABI
strawberry 1 and RABI strawberry 2. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Number of leaves (19.67), length of leaves (27.33
cm) and height of plant (26.43 cm) were found higher in RABI strawberry 2 with black
polythene after 90 days of transplanting. Although number of inflorescence per plant was higher
in RABI strawberry 1 with water hyacinth (6.33), but the number of fruits per inflorescence
(8.33), number of fruits per plant (23.27), fruit yield per plant (904.6 g), fruit yield per plot
(6.237 kg) and total yield per hectare (27.33 t) were found maximum in RABI strawberry 2 with
water hyacinth having statistical similarity with the values obtained from black polythene and
rice straw treatments. Eventually, it can be ended that application of mulching in the field greatly
influenced the growth, flowering, fruiting and yield of strawberry.
Key words: Growth, flowering, fruiting, strawberry, yield.
Introduction

Strawberry, belonging to the family Rosaceae, is one of the most delicious and sweet flavoured
fruit. It has a unique place among all the berry fruits because of its charming red color and its
nutritive value (Sharma et al., 2013). It is enriched with organic acids i.e. citric, malic, succinic,
oxalic, tartaric, etc. and vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C etc.
(Sharma, 2002). Strawberry contains a large number of phenolic compounds (Khanizadesh et al.,
2009) and number of pleasant aromas (Bakshi et al., 2014). Though it is a major fruit of
temperate region but it can be grown even in both tropical and subtropical region (Ram et al.,
2009) and the area under this crop in the sub-continent is increasing rapidly (Singh and Asary,
2009). In Bangladesh, it is a newly introduced crop (Chowdhury et al., 2013). It grows well in
the winter especially October-November is the best time for its planting so that it can complete
its life cycle before March (Hossain, 2009). Being a winter season crop, it has to face a lot of
natural advertise like poor soil moisture, temperature fluctuation and so on specially during
flowering and fruiting (Sharma et al., 2013). Again, as its fruits lays in soil, it can be easily
infected by soil inhabitant fungi. Mulching is an appropriate intercultural operation that can
prevent these problems by keeping the fruits aloof from the touch of direct soil (Hancock, 1999).
It also helps in moisture retention and weed suppression. Therefore, the present research with
mulch materials was conducted to evaluate the influence of mulching on the growth habit and
yield of strawberry.
Materials and Methods
The present research was conducted in the Field Laboratory of Department of Horticulture,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from October 2015 to
March 2016. Three different mulching materials viz., rice straw, water hyacinth and black
polythene along with control (no mulch) were used against two strawberry varieties namely
RABI strawberry 1 and RABI strawberry 2. The experiment was laid out in Randomized
Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The size of a unit plot was 1.6 m x 1.2
m and a total of 24 unit plots were prepared. Strawberry seedlings were transplanted maintaining
a spacing of 40 cm x 60 cm. Data on different parameters namely number of leaves, length of
leaf, plant height, number of inflorescence per plant, number fruits per inflorescence, number of
fruit per plant, fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per plot and fruit yield per hectare were collected
and calculated. The parameters were analyzed statistically using MSTAT-C statistical package
program and significant differences among the means, if any, were compared by LSD test at 1%
and 5% level of probability (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).
Results and Discussion

Effect on number of leaves per plant

Although varietal difference between the two strawberry varieties was statistically significant but
different mulch materials had no significant variations on the number of leaves grown. RABI
strawberry 2 possessed more leaves than that of RABI strawberry 1. Strawberry planted without
mulch had maximum number of leaves (11.17 and 16.17 after 45 and 90 days of transplanting)
which was statistically similar with leaves counted on plants where water hyacinth was used
(Fig. 1). Again in combination significant variation was observed where highest number of
leaves after 45 and 90 days of transplanting were counted 14.33 and 19.67, respectively on RABI
strawberry 2 planted with black polythene mulch whereas lowest number of leaves were counted
on RABI strawberry 1 with water hyacinth (Table 1). Sharma et al. (2013) also found similar
results in increasing the number of leaves.

20 Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene

No. of leaves per plant

17

14

11

8
45DAT 90DAT
Days after transplanting

Figure 1. Effect of different mulching materials on the number of leaves per plant; vertical vars
represent LSD at 1% level of significance.

Effect on length of leaf

Variety RABI strawberry 2 was found to have leaves with longer than that of RABI strawberry 1
and the variation was highly significant. Use of black polythene as mulch material resulted in the
longest leaf (22.45 cm and 26.84 cm on 45 and 90 days after transplanting, respectively)
followed by straw mulch while shortest leaf was obtained in control (18.09 cm and 22.48 cm on
45 and 90 days after transplanting, respectively) (Fig. 2). In interaction between variety and
mulch materials, leaf length was found maximum in RABI strawberry 2 (23.23 cm and 27.33 cm
on 45 and 90 days after transplanting, respectively) with black polythene which was statistically
similar to RABI strawberry 1 with black polythene. On the other hand, after 45 and 90 days of
transplanting leaf length was minimum (17.76 cm and 21.86 cm, respectively) in RABI
strawberry 2 with no mulch (Table 1). These results have got the support of the findings of
Ahmed et al. (2011).
 29 Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene

26
Length of leaf

23

20

17

14
45DAT 90DAT
Days after transplanting

Figure 2. Effect of different mulching materials on the length of leaf; vertical vars represent LSD
at 1% level of significance.

Table 1. Influence of mulching on leaf number, leaf length and plant height of strawberry
after different days of planting.

Leaf number Leaf length Plant height

Treatment
45 DAT 90 DAT 45 DAT 90 DAT 45 DAT 90 DAT
V1T0 7.667c 12.33c 18.42c 23.10c 14.52d 17.09e
V1T1 9.667bc 15.00bc 21.10ab 25.78ab 18.66c 21.23d
V1T2 6.667c 11.33c 20.77b 25.45ab 15.92d 18.49e
V1T3 8.000c 12.67c 21.68ab 26.36a 23.81a 25.93ab
V2T0 12.33ab 7.00ab 17.76c 21.86c 16.33d 18.45e
V2T1 11.33ab 7.33ab 19.43bc 23.53bc 21.74b 24.09bc
V2T2 12.33ab 17.00ab 18.26c 22.36c 20.93b 23.39c
V2T3 14.33a 19.67a 23.23a 27.33a 23.97a 26.43a
CV % 12.27 10.88 4.61 3.78 4.14 3.57
LSD 0.01 3.07 4.044 2.251 2.251 1.961 1.90
Level of
** ** ** ** ** **
significance
In a column, those having different letters differ significantly.
** Significant at 1% level of significance

Effect on plant height

With the increase in growth period plant height was increased and RABI strawberry 2 was taller
than RABI strawberry 1. Different mulching practices showed significant differences in the
height of strawberry plant resulting in highest plant was obtained after using black polythene
(26.18 cm on 90 days) and lowest in without mulch condition (17.77 cm on 90 days after
transplanting) (Fig. 3). Again, RABI strawberry 2 with black polythene possessed maximum
height (23.97 cm and 26.43 cm after 45 and 90 days of transplanting, respectively) having
statistical similarity RABI strawberry 1 using black polythene. While minimum height was
noticed on RABI strawberry 1 with mulching (Table 1). Shiukhy et al. (2014) and Rajblariani et
al. (2012) also gathered same results in an experiment with strawberry.
30 Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Plant height

25

20

15
45DAT 90DAT
Days after transplanting

Figure 3. Effect of different mulching materials on the plant height; vertical vars represent LSD
at 1% level of significance.

Effect on inflorescence per plant

Variety, mulching and interaction between variety and mulching showed no significant
differences on the number of inflorescence per plant. Almost equal number of inflorescence per
plant was observed in each of varieties, mulching materials and in interaction (Fig. 4) (Table 2).

6.3
No. of infloescence

6
per plant

5.7
5.4
5.1
4.8
Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Mulching materials

Figure 4. Effect of different mulching materials on the number of inflorescence per plant;
vertical var represent LSD at 1% level of significance.

Effect on number of fruit per inflorescence

In case of fruit per inflorescence, higher number of inflorescence was counted in RABI
strawberry 1 which varied significantly. Control condition resulted in minimum number of fruits
per inflorescence (5.33) while maximum (6.00) fruits per inflorescence were counted under
water hyacinth treated ones (Fig. 5). Again, in interaction maximum number of fruits (8.33) per
inflorescence was recorded in RABI strawberry 2 with both water hyacinth and black polythene
while minimum number of fruits per inflorescence was recorded under control (2.00). Santos
(2010) described that mulching protect damage that would help in inflorescence emergence.
8
No. of fruits per

6
inflorescence

0
Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Mulching materials
Figure 5. Effect of different mulching materials on the number of fruits per inflorescence;
vertical var represent LSD at 1% level of significance.
Effect on number of fruits per plant

Variety, mulching materials and interaction between variety and mulch materials showed highly
significant variations in case of number of fruits per plant. Plants of RABI strawberry 2 bore
more fruits than that of RABI strawberry 1. Black polythene mulch resulted in maximum number
of fruits per plant (27.83) followed by water hyacinth (25.17) and minimum number of fruits
retained under controlled condition (16) (Fig. 6). On the other hand, maximum number of fruits
per plant was obtained in RABI strawberry 2 with water hyacinth (23.27) and minimum in RABI
strawberry 1 with no mulch. Findings of Hassan et al. (2000) also support the result that
mulching helps in bearing more fits per plant.
30
No. of fruits per plant

25

20

15

10
Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Mulching materials

Figure 6. Effect of different mulching materials on the number of fruits per plant; vertical var
represent LSD at 1% level of significance.
Table 2. Influence of mulching on flowering, fruiting and yield of strawberry.

Infloresce Fruit/inflores Fruit yield Fruit yield Yield

Treatment Fruit/plant
nce/plant cence (g)/plant (kg)/plot (ton)/ha
V1T0 5.000a 2.000c 9.479d 281.1c 2.249c 9.000e
V1T1 6.000a 2.333bc 11.57cd 385.2bc 3.081bc 12.333cd
V1T2 6.333a 2.333bc 12.31cd 406.0bc 3.248bc 13.000d
V1T3 6.000a 4.000bc 15.53bcd 603.8ab 4.830ab 19.333c
V2T0 5.667a 4.333b 17.10abc 665.0ab 5.320ab 21.000bc
V2T1 5.333a 7.333a 22.85ab 888.4a 6.107a 24.667ab
V2T2 5.667a 8.333a 23.27a 904.6a 6.237a 27.333a
V2T3 5.333a 8.333a 22.65ab 880.4a 6.043a 26.333ab
CV % 19.45 17.12 21.46 20.5 20.5 18.22
LSD 0.01 2.678 2.028 7.462 312.3 2.498 14.468
Level of
NS ** ** ** ** **
significance
In a column, those having different letters differ significantly.
** Significant at 1% level of significance

Effect on fruit yield per plant

RABI strawberry 1 yielded lower amount of fruit than RABI strawberry 2. Maximum yield
(742.07 g) was obtained when black polythene was used as mulch while minimum yield (473.01
g) was obtained with no mulch (Fig. 7). Among the interactions, RABI strawberry 2 yielded
maximum amount of strawberry fruits (904.58 g) per plant when water hyacinth was used while
RABI strawberry 1 under control had lowest yield (281.07 g) per plant (Table 2).
800
Fruit yield (g) per plant

700
600
500
400
300
200
Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Mulching materials

Figure 7. Effect of different mulching materials on the fruit yield (g) per plant; vertical var
represent LSD at 1% level of significance.
Effect on fruit yield per plot

Fruit yield per plot almost followed the same trend as per fruit yield per plant. Unit plots that
were planted with RABI strawberry 2 gave more yield than RABI strawberry 1. Use of black
polythene resulted in maximum fruit yield (5.94 kg) per plot followed by water hyacinth (5.24
kg) use (Fig. 8). RABI strawberry 2 with water hyacinth gave maximum yield of strawberry
(7.24 kg) per plot which was statistically similar to RABI strawberry 2 with both rice straw (7.11
kg) and black polythene (7.04 kg). RABI strawberry 1 without mulch gave minimum yield (2.25
kg) per plot.

7
Fruit yield (kg) per plot

6
5
4
3
2
Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Mulching materials

Figure 8. Effect of different mulching materials on the fruit yield (kg) per unit plot; vertical var
represent LSD at 1% level of significance.
Effect on yield per hectare

In terms of yield per hectare, significant variations were observed between the varieties, among
the mulches and in interactions between variety and mulch materials. RABI strawberry 1 gave
lower yield than RABI strawberry 2. The highest yield was obtained with black polythene (19.09
ton) and lowest with control (13.29 ton) (Fig. 9). Again, interaction effect showed that RABI
strawberry 2 with water hyacinth produced maximum amount of fruits per hectare (27.33 ton)
which was statistically similar to the yield obtained in RABI strawberry 2 with black polythene
(26.33 ton) while minimum yield was obtained in RABI strawberry 1 under control (9.00 ton)
(Table 2). Bakshi et al. (2014), Sharma et al. (2013) and Hassan et al. (2000) also mentioned
similar increase in yield after applying mulch in the crop field.
 Fruit yield (t) per hectare 25
20
15
10
5
0
Control Rice straw Water hyacinth Black polythene
Mulching materials

Figure 9. Effect of different mulching materials on the fruit yield (kg) per unit plot; vertical var
represent LSD at 1% level of significance.
Conclusion

From the above discussion it can be concluded that growth and yield of strawberry was
influenced greatly after application of mulch. Among rice straw, water hyacinth and black
polythene, black polythene influenced growth factors and water hyacinth helped in increasing
yield of strawberry.

Acknowledgement
The author would like to express his profound respect and heartiest gratitude to Bangladesh
Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh for supporting him in accomplishing this
research work successfully.
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