Effect of Foliar Spray of Calcium on Growth and Yield of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn in Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

An experiment was conducted from November 2021 to March 2022 and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replications. A variety “Winter Dawn” of strawberry was subjected to five doses of calcium-EDTA: calcium-EDTA (250 ppm), calcium-EDTA (500 ppm), calcium-EDTA (750 ppm), calcium-EDTA (1000 ppm), and calcium-EDTA (1250 ppm) with no calcium-EDTA (water spray). Foliar spray of calcium-EDTA was done three times: 30, 45, and 60 days after transplanting. The results revealed that vegetative, phenological, and yield parameters were significantly influenced by different doses of calcium-EDTA. Plant height (23.14 cm), number of leaves per plant (38.70), and canopy diameter (30.12 cm) were recorded as maximum with 1000 ppm calcium-EDTA, followed by 750 ppm calcium-EDTA. Early flowering (42.55 days) was also recorded with the application of 1000 ppm calcium-EDTA. Fruit set percentage (78.84), number of flowers per plant (29.20), and number of fruit per plant (19.18) were recorded as maximum with 1000 ppm calcium-EDTA. Yield per hectare (24.73 mt) was recorded as maximum with the application of 1000 ppm calcium-EDTA, with a 65% increased yield over control. Thus, foliar spray of 1000 ppm calcium-EDTA is more suitable for increasing strawberry production. However, calcium-EDTA above 1000 ppm is not preferred for strawberry cultivation.