Effect of PSB and Vermicompost on Vegetative Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria×Ananassa Duch.) cv. Chandler

Abstract

A trial was conducted at Horticulture Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture Institute (NAI), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (UP), India during October 2023 to March 2024 to assess the effects of PSB and vermicompost on the growth, yield, and quality of Strawberry. The experiment was conducted using nine treatments including two levels each of vermicompost (20 and 25 t ha^-1) and PSB (6 and 7 kg ha^-1) and their combinations along with one control, replicated thrice in randomized block design. Each dose of vermicompost and PSB was applied at the time of planting in the field. The consolidated use of vermicompost @ 25 t ha^-1 PSB @ 7 kg ha^-1 significantly expanded the height of plant (16.21 cm), number of leaves (60.00), crowns (6.29) and runners (4.97) plant^-1, though the most extreme number of flowers (38.31), fruits set (35.50) plant^-1 with an expanded duration of harvesting (70.27 days) and the minimum number of days taken to produce first flower (63.99 days) with significantly more yield (344.35 g plant^-1) were recorded with vermicompost @ 25 t ha^-1 PSB @ 7 kg ha^-1 supplied plants. Plants supplied with vermicompost @ 25 t ha^-1 PSB @ 7 kg ha^-1 additionally produced the berries with extreme length (4.13 cm), width (2.45 cm), weight (9.70 g), TSS (9.21°Brix), total sugars (8.31%) and ascorbic acid (57.47 mg 100 g^-1 edible portion) with least titratable acidity (0.60%) in contrast with different treatments under plains of central Uttar Pradesh.