Effect of calcium concentrations in fertilizer solution on growth and nutrient uptake of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) grown on soilless crop system

Abstract

The nutritional imbalance for the plant is caused mainly by the antagonisms between Potassium (K+), Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+). To ovoid this maladjustment, the concentrations of these elements must obey to K/(Ca + Mg) (R). This experiment was aimed at assessing the different responses of Fragaria ananassa (FA) soilless crop to the different Ca2+ concentrations (mM) : 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6 and 9. They corresponding to different R: 2.5 1.42, 1, 0.76, 0.62, 0.45. It found that 0.62≤ R ≤ 0.76 provided relatively the best growths by improving the height plant, length, and width of the leaves, length of the petiole. It provided, also, the best biomass by the highest dry and fresh weight (DW, FW) with a correlation R2 = 0.37 and R2= 078 respec-tively. The greatest rate of H2PO4-, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe, Mn and Cu in leaves was , also, obtained by the same R. However, total Nitrogen (T-N) was not affected by the R variation. This variation on Ca2+ concentration in the sap of the petiole and on the aerial part was correlated R2 = 0.86 and 0.85 respec-tively. The electrical conductivity (EC) and the pH obtained under The R cited were around 1.2 dS/m and 6.25 respectively for a correlation R2=0.64 for pH.