Biorational Plant Growth: The effect of seaweed extracts on strawberry plant production - Annual Report 1997

Annual report for HYDRO Agri ASA -------------------------------- In 1997, strawberry field trials with drip irrigation, conventional mineral fertilizer plus added seaweed extracts were carried out at the Plant Biocentre, Dragvoll, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). These trials were based on the trials in 1996 with regard to plant material, treatments and cultivation conditions. The following extracts were tested on strawberry 'Korona' and 'Bounty' cultivars: ALG, AMI, WOK-LT1, GB and VAB. These treatments were compared with control plants to determine if the extracts affected plant growth, berry production and quality. A close correlation between vegetative growth and yield components could be shown for both cultivars, 'Korona' and 'Bounty'. * In the context of changed berry morphology and development, berry production was strongly affected as a result of GB and VAB treatment for 'Korona' and 'Bounty'(VAB), and resulted in almost 30 % increased yield ('Korona'). These treatment can therefore be a useful fertilizer additive to improve the strawberry production. * Berry quality parameters were slightly affected by the different treatments but did not lead to obvious changes in taste which could have an influence on marketable fruit quality. * Based on the results presented in the literature available in this field and the high similarities in growth changes in both 1996 and 1997 it can be concluded that treatment with the present seaweed extracts and plant growth regulators result in reproducible results.