ISHS Acta Horticulturae 265: International Strawberry Symposium
INFLUENCE OF SOIL AND FOLIAR APPLIED CALCIUM ON STRAWBERRY FRUIT NUTRIENTS AND POST-HARVEST QUALITY |
| Authors: | D.J. Makus, J.R. Morris |
| Abstract:
The use of various forms of calcium (Ca) was tested as a pre-harvest strawberry fruit firming agent. Calcium (Ca) was applied to hill system planted strawberry plants foliarly as Ca trihydroxyglutarate (Nutri-cal) at 7 (1986) and 30 (1987) kg/ha, soil amended as gypsum at 437 kg/ha, applied in the irrigation system as Ca nitrate via trickle irrigation at 437 kg/ha or combined as given in the previous treatments at 882 (1986) or 904 (1987) kg/ha. Fruit % soluble solids, pulp pH, titratable acidity and firmness of 'Cardinal' a firm-fleshed spring cultivar, and 'Fern', a medium, soft-fleshed, day-neutral cultivar, were not affected by calcium application. Results were consistant over years and planting sites. The combination treatment reduced average fruit size in both years. In both cultivars, all Ca treatments reduced decay in fruit held 2 days at 21°C. Foliar leaf analysis confirmed the uptake of Ca, but Ca levels in the fruit were similar among the various treatments and from plants receiving no supplemental Ca. | |
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