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Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351

Interactive effects of planting time and mulching on ‘Chandler’

strawberry (Fragaria � ananassa Duch.)

Rajbir Singh *, R.R. Sharma, R.K. Goyal

Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Abohar 152116, India

Received 11 February 2005; received in revised form 13 July 2006; accepted 6 November 2006

Abstract

Studies were conducted in ‘Chandler’ strawberry with the aim to optimize planting time and mulching material under the semi-arid region of

north Indian plains. Three planting times viz., mid-September, mid-October and mid-November and three mulch materials viz., black polyethylene

(50 mm), clear polyethylene (50 mm) and paddy straw (10 cm thickness) were tried with three replications in a split plot design. Mid-September

planting favoured plant growth, enhanced flowering (77.3 days), which resulted in production of significantly larger fruit (13.0 g) and higher yield

(174.4 g/plant) with fruit having higher TSS (9.23%), acidity (1.22%) and ascorbic acid content (44.1 mg/100 g of pulp) with lesser incidence of

albinism (9.6%) and botrytis rot (8.1%) than other plantings. Plants mulched with black polyethylene have significantly better growth, and they

flowered (80.2 days) and fruited early (29.2 days), and produced larger fruit (12.6 g) and higher yield (172.4 g/plant), with slightly higher incidence

of albinism (20.1%), but with lower incidence of botrytis rot (7.3%) than those mulched either with clear polyethylene or paddy straw. Planting

time � mulching interaction has significantly influenced plant growth; flowering and fruiting; fruit yield and quality, and albinism and botrytis rot.

Plants have best growth parameters like, plant height (11.2 cm), crown spread (24.1 cm) and leaf area (87.9 cm2), they took lesser days to flowering

(73.7 days) and fruiting (31.3 days), produced larger fruit (13.7 g) and higher yield (191.3 g/plant) with fruit having higher TSS (9.41%), acidity

(1.17%) and higher ascorbic acid content (46.4 mg/100 g pulp) with a slightly higher incidence of albinism (10.3%), but comparatively lower

incidence of botrytis rot (5.2%) when planted during mid-September and mulched with black polyethylene than other plantings and mulched either

with clear polyethylene or paddy straw. These studies indicated that strawberry could be planted in mid-September with black polyethylene mulch

under semi-arid regions of India for early fruiting, and higher yield of better quality fruits.

# 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Acidity; Albinism; Ascorbic acid; Botrytis fruit rot; Fruit yield; Mulching; Planting time; Strawberry; Total soluble solids

1. Introduction

Strawberry (Fragaria � ananassa Duch.) is one of the most

delicious and refreshing fruits of the world, which was

introduced in India during the early sixties, but could not be

popularized due to several reasons (Sharma and Sharma, 2004).

However, during last decade, it has become favourite fruit

among growers because of its remunerative prices and higher

profitability. Further, availability of day-neutral and high

yielding varieties and standarization of plasticultural techni-

ques have resulted in phenomenal increase in its area and

production particularly near towns and cities (Sharma and

Sharma, 2004; Paramanick et al., 2005).

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 1634 225313; fax: +91 1634 225315.

E-mail address: rajbir70@indiatimes.com (R. Singh).

0304-4238/$ – see front matter # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2006.11.002

For successful strawberry cultivation, planting time plays

very significant role (Anna et al., 2003). In India, strawberry is

usually planted in second fortnight of October with traditional

methods, which restrict the fruit availability for a very short

period (one and half month). However, there are several reports

available in the literature indicating that strawberry can be

planted at different times of the year depending on variety,

location and climates (Galletta and Bringhurst, 1990; Sharma

and Sharma, 2004). Furthermore, higher profitability and

productivity of strawberry are being taken in many countries

either with staggered planting or with the use of plasticulture

techniques (Wang. et al., 1998; Hancock, 1999). However, such

agro-techniques have not yet been standarized under Indian

conditions.

Among different production practices of strawberry,

mulching is considered as the most important cultural practice

as it plays essential role in soil moisture conservation, weed

control, regulation of soil-hydrothermal regime, besides

Tab

le1

Cli

mat

icco

nd

itio

nat

the

exp

erim

enta

lsi

te(p

oo

led

dat

ao

f2

yea

rs)

Par

amet

ers

15

–30

Sep

t1

–1

5O

ct1

6–

31

Oct

1–

15

Nov

16

–31

Nov

1–

15

Dec

16

–3

1D

ec1

–1

5Ja

n1

6–

31

Jan

1–

15

Feb

16

–31

Feb

1–

15

Mar

ch1

6–

31

Mar

ch1

–1

4A

pri

l

Mea

nte

mp

erat

ure

(8C

)2

8.8

26

.42

2.4

19

.61

7.3

16

.71

3.2

9.3

11

.71

4.7

16

.21

8.2

22

.42

6.4

Rel

ativ

eh

um

idit

y(%

)5

1.3

57

.45

9.2

77

.88

9.3

93

.19

7.6

98

.29

8.1

94

.58

1.3

67

.45

2.6

47

.2

Lig

ht

inte

nsi

ty(m

mol

m�

1s�

1)

12

51

11

77

11

19

95

29

06

71

36

11

57

86

23

82

79

58

11

09

12

05

13

49

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351 345

keeping the delicate fruit neat and clean (Abbott and Gough,

1992; Gupta and Acharya, 1993; Hancock, 1999; Tarara, 2000).

In addition, mulching also improves plant growth, berry weight,

fruit yield and quality in strawberry (Hassan et al., 2000;

Sharma and Sharma, 2003; Moor et al., 2004; Singh and Asrey,

2005; Singh et al., 2006). For mulching, different materials are

used in different parts of the world, but black polyethylene is

the most widely used (Sharma and Sharma, 2004; Singh and

Asrey, 2005; Singh et al., 2006).

Further, among various disorders of strawberry, albinism is

considered as one of the most serious disorders (Lieten, 1989).

Various factors contribute for the development of albino fruit

including plant growth, N fertilization and thermal heat of the

soil (Ulrich, 1971; Lieten and Marcelle, 1993; Sharma et al.,

2004; Sharma et al., 2006a,b). Besides, poor colour develop-

ment, albino fruit are liable to severe damage during harvesting,

thus reducing the profit margin of the growers. Similarly,

among different diseases, botrytis fruit rot caused by Botrytis

cinerea, is the most devastating disease of strawberry, which

assumes serious concern with the increasing environmental

temperature (Bulger et al., 1987; Wilcox and Seen, 1994;

Hancock, 1999). It is well understood that incidence of

albinism and botrytis fruit rot is influenced by planting time and

mulching as they modify microclimate of soil and environment

(Bulger et al., 1987; Wilcox and Seen, 1994; Lieten and

Marcelle, 1993; Hancock, 1999; Sharma et al., 2004).

Considering these facts, systematic studies were conducted

in ‘Chandler’ strawberry, which is the most famous and widely

cultivated variety in different regions of India (Asrey and Singh,

2004) to determine the appropriate planting time and mulching

material for better growth, early yield of better quality fruit.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Experiment site

The studies were conducted at the research farm of the

Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology,

Abohar (Latitude 308090N, Longitude 748130E, 185.6 m above

mean sea level), Punjab, India during 2000–2002. This region

falls in semi-arid zone having hot summers (May–June) and

mild winter (December–mid February) with annual rainfall of

about 180 mm, restricted mainly during July and August.

However, the climatic condition of the experimental site during

the entire period of experimentation is given in Table 1. Soil of

the experimental farm was sandy-loam, having pH 8.5, which

was low in organic carbon (0.42%), medium in available

phosphorus and high in potash.

2.2. Treatments

Soil was thoroughly ploughed and raised beds of 25 cm

height and one meter width were prepared at a distance of

50 cm. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, with

three dates of planting as main effect, and three mulching

materials as sub-main effect. Healthy and disease free runners

of ‘Chandler’ strawberry were planted at a spacing of

Tab

le2

Eff

ect

of

pla

nti

ng

tim

ean

dm

ulc

hin

go

ng

row

thch

arac

ters

of

‘Ch

and

ler’

stra

wb

erry

Pla

nti

ng

tim

eC

row

nh

eigh

t(c

m)

Pla

nt

spre

ad(c

m)

Lea

far

ea(c

m2)

Bla

ck

po

lyet

hy

lene

Cle

ar

po

lyet

hy

lene

Pad

dy

stra

w

Mea

nB

lack

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Cle

ar

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Pad

dy

stra

w

Mea

nB

lack

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Cle

ar

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Pad

dy

straw

Mea

n

Mid

-Sep

tem

ber

11

.21

0.9

9.7

10

.62

4.1

21

.31

9.4

21

.68

7.9

81

.27

9.8

82

.9

Mid

-Oct

ober

10

.79

.69

.19

.82

2.0

19

.11

8.2

19

.87

9.3

72

.16

9.6

73

.7

Mid

-Novem

ber

8.9

8.1

7.7

8.2

19

.41

6.2

16

.81

7.5

71

.66

5.4

67

.36

8.1

Mea

n1

0.3

9.5

8.8

21

.81

8.9

18

.17

9.6

72

.97

2.2

LS

D(0

.05

)P

=0

.42

,M

=0

.53,

P�

M=

0.7

4P

=0

.81

,M

=0

.72,

P�

M=

1.1

2P

=5

.23,

M=

4.8

2,

P�

M=

7.5

3

P:

pla

nti

ng

tim

e;M

:ty

pe

of

mulc

h;

P�

M:

pla

nti

ng

tim

e�

mulc

hin

g.

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351346

25 cm � 25 cm on three dates viz., mid-September (15th); mid-

October (15th) and mid-November (15th). Irrigation was

provided with micro-sprinkler system during early stage of

plant establishment, which was replaced by drip system after 20

days of planting. Two rows of laterals were spread in each plot

with drippers (4 l/h) at a spacing of 50 cm. Mulching treatment

consisted of black polyethylene film (50 mm); clear poly-

ethylene film (50 mm) and paddy straw (10 cm thickness).

Mulches were applied after 1 month of planting of runners.

Polyethylene mulches (black and clear) were spread manually

in a way that plants come out of films and the drip system

remained below the polyethylene films. Each treatment

combination consisted of 96 plants in a plot size of

600 cm � 100 cm, replicated thrice. All necessary cultural

practices and plant protection measures were followed

uniformly for all the plots and treatments during the entire

period of experimentation.

2.3. Observations recorded

Observations on crown height (cm), plant spread (cm), and

leaf area (recorded by leaf area meter in cm2); days taken to

flowering and fruiting; fruit weight and yield/plant were

recorded in 24 randomly selected plants from each treatment

combination. For incidence of albinism, healthy (normal) and

albino fruit were counted and represented as percentage (%).

For botrytis fruit rot infection, infected fruit were counted as

and when symptoms of the infection were noticed and were

represented as percentage (%). Standard procedures were

adopted for recording data on different quality parameters like,

TSS (%), acidity (%) and ascorbic acid content (mg/100 g pulp)

(AOAC, 1989).

2.4. Data analysis

Two year’s data of different parameters were pooled and

analyzed, following split plot design (Gomez and Gomez,

1994), however, data on albinism incidence and botrytis fruit

rot infection (%) were transformed as per Arcin’s values before

analysis.

3. Results

3.1. Plant growth parameters

Plant growth parameters, like crown height, plant spread and

leaf area of ‘Chandler’ strawberry were significantly influenced

by planting time, mulching and their interaction (Table 2).

Irrespective of mulching, crown height (10.6 cm), plant spread

(21.6 cm) and leaf area (82.9 cm2) of the plants were

significantly higher in mid-September planting than other

plantings. Similarly, crown height (10.3 cm), plant spread

(21.8 cm) and leaf area (79.6 cm2) were significantly higher in

plants mulched with black polyethylene than those mulched

either with clear polyethylene or paddy straw. However, no

significant difference existed in all growth parameters when

either clear polyethylene or paddy straw was used as mulch.

Table 3

Effect of planting time and mulching on flowering and fruiting behaviour of ‘Chandler’ strawberry

Planting time Days taken to flowering Days taken to fruiting

Black polyethylene Clear polyethylene Paddy straw Mean Black polyethylene Clear polyethylene Paddy straw Mean

Mid-September 73.7 76.0 82.3 77.3 31.3 33.7 34.0 33.0

Mid-October 78.0 81.7 85.3 81.7 29.3 31.3 34.7 31.8

Mid-November 89.0 92.6 95.7 92.4 27.0 28.3 32.2 29.2

Mean 80.2 83.4 87.8 29.2 31.1 33.7

LSD (0.05) P = 6.2, M = 5.7, P �M = 7.2 P = 1.4, M = 1.1, P �M = 1.8

P: planting time; M: type of mulch; P �M: planting time � mulching.

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351 347

Further, the interactive effect of planting time � mulching,

showed that crown height (11.2 cm), plant spread (24.1 cm) and

leaf area (87.9 cm2) were highest in mid-September planting,

when mulched with black polyethylene and lowest in mid-

November planting, and when mulched with paddy straw

(Table 2). All the measured growth parameters were

progressively lower with successive plantings (mid-October

or mid-November) and/or when either black/clear polyethylene

or paddy straw was used as mulch.

3.2. Days to flowering and fruiting

Planting time, mulching and planting time � mulching

interaction have significant influence on flowering and

fruiting behaviour of ‘Chandler’ strawberry (Table 3).

Irrespective of mulching, plants took only 77.3 days to

flowering in mid-September planting, and as many as 92.4

days in mid-November planting. Similarly, plants mulched

with black polyethylene took lesser days to flowering (80.2

days) than those mulched either with clear polyethylene (83.4

days) or paddy straw (87.8 days). Further, the interactive

effect of planting time � mulching was much more sig-

nificant as plants took only 73.7 days to flowering, when

planted in mid-September and mulched with black poly-

ethylene, whereas those planted in mid-November and

mulched with paddy straw took as high as 95.7 days

(Table 3). In contrast, plants of mid-September planting took

higher days (33.0 days) for fruiting than those planted on later

dates. However, plants mulched with black polyethylene

fruited early (29.2 days) than those mulched either with clear

polyethylene (31.1 days) or paddy straw (33.7 days). Further,

synergistic effect of planting time � mulching on fruiting

Table 4

Fruit weight and yield of ‘Chandler’ strawberry as influenced by planting time an

Planting time Fruit weight (g)

Black polyethylene Clear polyethylene Paddy straw

Mid-September 13.7 12.8 12.4

Mid-October 12.5 10.9 10.7

Mid-November 11.6 9.7 10.1

Mean 12.6 11.1 11.0

LSD (0.05) P = 0.85, M = 0.71, P �M = 1.02

P: planting time; M: type of mulch; P �M: planting time � mulching.

was significant as plants took only 31.3 days to fruiting in

mid-September planting and mulched with black polyethy-

lene than those planted either in mid-October or mid-

November and mulched either with black/clear polyethylene

or paddy straw (Table 3).

3.3. Fruit weight and yield

Planting time, mulching and their interaction also influenced

fruit weight and yield of ‘Chandler’ strawberry significantly

(Table 4). Irrespective of mulching, larger fruit (13 g) were

harvested from mid-September planting than those planted

either in mid-October (11.4 g) or mid-November (10.5 g). Mid-

September planting also produced significantly higher fruit

yield (174.4 g/plant) compared to mid-October (149.3 g/plant)

and mid-November (133.9 g/plant) plantings. Irrespective of

planting time, mulching also influenced the fruit weight and

yield/plant significantly (Table 4). Fruits were comparatively

larger (12.6 g) in plants mulched with black polyethylene than

those harvested from plants mulched either with clear

polyethylene (11.1g) or paddy straw (11 g). Similarly, fruit

yield/plant was significantly higher in plants mulched with

black polyethylene (172.4 g/plant), which was 24.2 and 17.8%

higher as compared to plants mulched with clear polyethylene

and paddy straw, respectively. Planting time � mulching

interaction for fruit weight and yield was highly significant,

as fruit harvested from mid-September planting were largest

(13.7 g), when mulched with black polyethylene and produced

maximum yield (191.3 g/plant), whereas fruit harvested from

mid-November planting and mulched with clear polyethylene

produced the smallest fruit (9.7 g) and lowest yield (110.5 g/

plant) (Table 4).

d mulching

Fruit yield (g/plant)

Mean Black polyethylene Clear polyethylene Paddy straw Mean

13.0 191.3 175.1 156.8 174.4

11.4 172.9 130.8 144.1 149.3

10.5 153.0 110.5 138.2 133.9

172.4 138.8 146.4

P = 8.55, M = 8.72, P �M = 15.11

Tab

le5

Fru

itq

ual

ity

of

‘Ch

and

ler’

stra

wb

erry

asin

flu

ence

db

yp

lan

tin

gti

me

and

mu

lch

ing

Pla

nti

ng

tim

eT

SS

(%)

Aci

dit

y(%

)A

sco

rbic

acid

con

ten

t(m

g/1

00

gp

ulp

)

Bla

ck

po

lyet

hy

lene

Cle

ar

po

lyet

hy

lene

Pad

dy

stra

w

Mea

nB

lack

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Cle

ar

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Pad

dy

stra

w

Mea

nB

lack

po

lyet

hy

len

e

Cle

ar

po

lyet

hy

lene

Pad

dy

stra

w

Mea

n

Mid

-Sep

tem

ber

9.4

19

.26

9.0

39

.23

1.1

71

.22

1.2

61

.22

46

.44

4.1

41

.84

4.1

Mid

-Oct

ob

er9

.24

8.9

58

.85

9.0

11

.11

1.1

81

.20

1.1

64

2.4

40

.13

9.7

40

.7

Mid

-Novem

ber

8.9

68

.79

8.8

18

.85

0.9

81

.14

1.1

41

.09

39

.43

6.4

37

.13

7.6

Mea

n9

.20

9.0

08

.90

1.0

91

.18

1.2

04

2.7

40

.23

9.5

LS

D(0

.05

)P

=0

.14

,M

=0

.11,

P�

M=

0.2

0P

=0

.05,

M=

0.0

3,

P�

M=

0.0

7P

=1

.5,

M=

1.6

,P�

M=

2.3

P:

pla

nti

ng

tim

e;M

:ty

pe

of

mu

lch

;P�

M:

pla

nti

ng

tim

e�

mu

lch

ing

.

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351348

3.4. Fruit quality parameters

Planting time, mulching and planting time � mulching

interaction influenced the fruit quality parameters of ‘Chandler’

strawberry significantly (Table 5). TSS (9.23%), acidity

(1.22%) and ascorbic acid content (44.1 mg/100 g pulp) were

comparatively higher in fruit harvested from mid-September

planting than those harvested from successive plantings

(Table 5). Similarly, fruit harvested from plants, which were

mulched with black polyethylene had better TSS (9.20%),

lower acidity (1.09%) and higher ascorbic acid content

(42.7 mg/100 g pulp) than fruit obtained from plants mulched

either with clear polyethylene or paddy straw. The interactive

effect of planting time � mulching for all quality parameters

was also significant as fruit harvested from mid-September

planting and mulched with black polyethylene had maximum

TSS (9.41%), and ascorbic acid (46.4 mg/100 g pulp) and lower

acidity (1.17%), whereas those harvested from mid-November

plantings and mulched with clear polyethylene had lowest TSS

(8.79%), acidity (1.14%) and ascorbic acid content (36.4 mg/

100 g pulp) (Table 5).

3.5. Incidence of albinism and botrytis rot

Nearly 19 and 11% fruit were infected by albinism and

botrytis rot, respectively, which was significantly influenced by

planting time and mulching individually and in combination

(Table 6). Irrespective of mulching, mid-September planting

produced lesser albino (9.6%) and botrytis rot infected fruit

(8.1%) than successive plantings. Plants mulched with black

polyethylene, though produced albino fruit in a bit higher

proportion (20.1%), but were lesser infected by botrytis fruit rot

(7.3%) compared to other mulches (Table 6). Planting

time � mulching interaction has significantly influenced both

albinism incidence and botrytis rot infection as plants of early

planting (mid-September), when mulched with paddy straw

produced minimum albino fruit (9.1%) than those planted later

(mid-November) and mulched with black polyethylene

(31.4%). Contrary to this, plants of mid-September planting,

when mulched with black polyethylene produced least botrytis

rot infected fruit (5.2%) than those planted in mid-November

and mulched with paddy straw (22.3%).

4. Discussion

4.1. Plant growth parameters

Our studies indicated that plant growth parameters like,

plant spread (cm), crown height (cm) and leaf area (cm2) of

‘Chandler’ strawberry were significantly influenced by planting

time, mulching and their interaction (Table 2). Individually,

plants of mid–September planting had better growth than other

plantings, perhaps because of availability of better climatic

conditions (Table 1), which were favourable for growth and

development of plants. Thus, availability of comparatively

lower temperature, higher relative humidity and low light

intensity for plants of mid-October and mid-November planting

Table 6

Albinism incidence and botrytis fruit rot infection in ‘Chandler’ strawberry as influenced by planting time and mulching

Planting time Albinism incidence TSS (%) Botrytis rot infection (%)

Black

polyethylene

Clear

polyethylene

Paddy

straw

Mean Black

polyethylene

Clear

polyethylene

Paddy

straw

Mean

Mid-September 10.3 (9.7) 9.4 (17.8) 9.1 (17.5) 9.6 (18.0) 5.2 (13.1) 7.0 (15.2) 12.2 (20.4) 8.1 (16.2)

Mid-October 18.6 (15.5) 17.1 (24.4) 15.9 (23.4) 17.2 (24.4) 7.3 (15.6) 9.8 (18.1) 14.8 (22.6) 10.6 (18.7)

Mid-November 31.4 (34.1) 28.7 (32.4) 27.4 (31.5) 29.1 (32.6) 9.5 (17.8) 14.2 (22.0) 22.3 (28.3) 15.3 (22.6)

Mean 20.1 (26.2) 18.4 (24.8) 17.5 (24.2) 7.3 (15.5) 10.3 (18.5) 16.4 (23.7)

LSD (0.05) P = 2.19, M = 1.23, P �M = 3.15 P = 2.03, M = 2.51, P �M = 4.14

P: planting time; M: type of mulch; P �M: planting time � mulching. Values in parentheses are Arcin’s transformed values.

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351 349

might not have favoured appropriate growth in plants (Table 1).

Hassan et al. (2000), Anna et al. (2003) have observed better

growth of strawberry if planted after second week of October

under north Indian conditions, because the temperature in these

areas is usually higher up to first fortnight of October, which is

not conducive for proper establishment, growth and develop-

ment of strawberry plants. Plants mulched with black

polyethylene had better growth than those mulched either

with clear polyethylene or paddy straw (Table 2). It may be

attributed to better soil hydrothermal regimes, better moisture

conservation and suppression of weeds in plants mulched with

black polyethylene than other mulches (Gupta and Acharya,

1993; Tarara, 2000). Many researchers have also reported better

growth of strawberry plants, when mulched with black

polyethylene than other mulches (Badiyala and Aggarwal,

1981; Sharma and Sharma, 2003; Singh and Asrey, 2005; Singh

et al., 2006). The interaction, planting time � mulching, had

significant influence on plant growth with maximum crown

height, plant spread and leaf area in plants of mid-September

planting, and when mulched with black polyethylene than other

combinations. It may be attributed to synergistic and interactive

influence of early planting and black polyethylene mulch on

creation of comparatively favourable environment and better

moisture conservation, suppression in weed growth etc., which

might have resulted in comparatively better growth of plants

than other combinations.

4.2. Days to flowering and fruiting

Planting time and mulching, individually and in combina-

tion have advanced the flowering and fruiting in ‘Chandler’

strawberry significantly (Table 3). Mid-September planting has

resulted into early flowering (77.3 days) than other plantings,

probably because during first week of December (when

flowering commenced), the mean temperature was compara-

tively favourable for better growth and development of plants,

which might have advanced both flowering and fruiting.

Moreover, plants of mid-September planting had sufficient time

for proper growth up to mid-December, which might also have

advanced the flowering and fruiting (personal observations).

Plants of successive plantings had poor growth and received

low temperature (after 15th December, when flowering

commenced), which might have resulted into delayed flowering

and fruiting. Further, different mulching materials affected the

flowering and fruiting in ‘Chandler’ strawberry mainly because

of differed soil hydrothermal regimes. Better moisture

conservation and higher soil temperature with the use of black

polyethylene mulch than other mulches have also been reported

by Pollard et al. (1989); Abbott and Gough (1992); Hassan et al.

(2000); Singh and Asrey, 2005 and Singh et al. (2006). The

interactive effect of planting time and mulching has positive

and significant influence on advancement of flowering and

fruiting as mid-September planting coupled with black

polyethylene mulch have enhanced the flowering and fruiting,

mainly because of combined and beneficial effect of early

planting and black mulch.

4.3. Fruit weight and yield

Individual berry weight and fruit yield/plant were sig-

nificantly influenced individually by planting time, mulching or

their combination (Table 4). Higher fruit weight and yield/plant

in mid-September planting compared to other plantings, may be

primarily because plants of mid-September planting got

sufficient time for better growth of plants, which resulted in

the production of better sized berries. In contrast, mid-October

or mid-November plantings had lesser time for attainment of

adequate vegetative growth before the onset of winter, which

has resulted in lesser plant and fruit growth and comparatively

lesser yield. Moreover, the fruiting period of mid-September

planting was for about two and half months (mid-January to

March last), compared to only one and half months (March to

mid-April) in later plantings (personal observations), primarily

because with the onset of spring, the temperature rose up, which

resulted in the development of smaller fruit and thereby lower

yield in later plantings. Thus, all these factors might have

cumulatively resulted in to high fruit weight and yield/plant in

mid-September planting than other plantings. Plants under

black polyethylene mulch produced larger fruit and have higher

yield/plant, mainly because of better plant growth owing to

favourable hydrothermal regime of soil and complete weed free

environment (Pollard et al., 1989; Sharma and Sharma, 2003;

Singh and Asrey, 2005; Singh et al., 2006). Although, plants

under clear polyethylene mulch also have better plant growth,

but berry weight and fruit yield/plant were lesser than plants

mulched with paddy straw. Our observations in this regard

reveal that weeds were not completely suppressed by clear

polyethylene mulch than black polyethylene or paddy straw;

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351350

hence plants under clear polyethylene mulch might have

produced smaller fruit with low yield/plant. Gupta and Acharya

(1993) have also reported that emergence of weeds is quite

common in clear plastic films, which hinders the plant growth

and fruit yield/plant adversely. The interactive effect of planting

time and mulching on fruit weight and yield/plant were highly

significant as plants of mid- September planting, when mulched

with black polyethylene produced largest fruit and highest

yield/plant. It may be attributed to synergistic influence of early

planting and black polyethylene mulch for better growth and

development of plants, better soil-hydrothermal regimes and

weed free environment. Similar observations on increased yield

following mulching with black polyethylene have also been

reported by Badiyala and Aggarwal (1981), Gupta and Acharya

(1993), Hassan et al. (2000) and Singh et al. (2006).

4.4. Fruit quality parameters

Planting time, mulching and their interaction significantly

influenced the fruit quality parameters of ‘Chandler’ strawberry

(Table 5). Better quality of fruit from early planting (mid-

September) may be associated with prolonged harvesting

period (mid-January to March), which might result in

accumulation of better sugar and ascorbic acid content.

Moreover, due to the onset of spring, the fruit development

was very fast in plants of later plantings, which might have

resulted in accumulation of lesser sugars or other quality

parameters than fruit of mid-September planting, which got

sufficient time for development. Hassan et al. (2000) have

reported that increased temperature has negative effect on fruit

quality parameters in strawberry and mulching influences

quality of strawberry invariably (Moor et al., 2004). Fruit

harvested from plants mulched with black polyethylene have

higher TSS and ascorbic acid, and lower acidity than those

harvested from plants mulched either with clear polyethylene

mulch or paddy straw (Table 5). It may be attributed to

favourable climatic conditions (Table 1) and creation of weed

free environment by black mulch polyethylene in fields, which

led to higher TSS and ascorbic acid content and lower acidity in

fruit (Gupta and Acharya, 1993; Hassan et al., 2000; Sharma

et al., 2004). The interactive effect of planting time � mulching

on fruit quality has been observed as fruit harvested from plants

of mid-September planting and mulched with black poly-

ethylene, had highest TSS, and ascorbic acid content and lowest

acidity than those harvested from plants of other plantings, and

when mulched either with clear polyethylene or paddy straw

(Table 5). It may be attributed to cumulative and synergistic

effective of early planting and black polyethylene mulch, due to

which, plants have better growth, early flowering and fruiting,

and fruit received extra time for fruit growth and development,

and accumulation of quality traits.

4.5. Incidence of albinism and botrytis rot

Plants of mid-September planting produced lesser albino and

botrytis rot infected fruit than other plantings (Table 6), which

may be ascribed to the fact that fruit got sufficient time and

adequate temperature for proper colour development than other

plantings. However, there is no report in the literature to support

our findings that early planting disfavour the development of

albinism in strawberry. In contrast, some workers have reported

that vigorous growth favours albinism in strawberry (Lieten,

1989; Sharma and Sharma, 2004; Sharma et al., 2004; Sharma

et al., 2006a,b). In our studies, though we have observed better

growth in plants of mid-September planting, but as per our

perception, growth was not vigorous enough to favour the

development of albino fruits in larger proposition. Similarly,

mid-September planting produced lesser botrytis-infected fruit

than other plantings, mainly because of temperature effect.

Higher botrytis infection in fruit produced later in the season

(Table 6) owing to late plantings may be due higher temperature

in the environment as higher temperature has been reported to

favour the development and spread of botrytis rot in strawberry

(Bulger et al., 1987; Wilcox and Seen, 1994; Hancock, 1999).

Plants mulched with black polyethylene produced albino

fruit in higher proportion (20.1%); and those mulched with

paddy straw, the least (18.6%). This may be attributed to higher

thermal heat, which is produced at the surface of film, as black

polyethylene has the capacity to absorb higher solar radiation

than other mulch materials (Tarara, 2000). Further, black

polyethylene film is also considered to activate microbial and

other chemical reactions in the soil (Gupta and Acharya, 1993),

which might have promoted the incidence of albinism. Similar

findings of higher incidence of albinism with the use of black

polyethylene have also been reported by Sharma and Sharma

(2003) and Sharma et al. (2004). In contrast, botrytis fruit rot

infection was lesser in plants mulched with black polyethylene

and higher in plants mulched with paddy straw (Table 6),

primarily because straw is considered as a better medium for

the spread of Botrytis cinerea than black polyethylene mulch

(Sharma and Sharma, 2004). Significant influence of planting

time � mulching interaction on albinism and botrytis rot

infection may be due to synergistic and interactive influence of

planting time and mulching on microclimate modification,

which might have favoured or disfavoured the incidence of

albinism and botrytis rot.

5. Conclusions

Our studies indicated that ‘Chandler’ strawberry could be

planted in mid-September under sub-tropical semi-arid zones of

India with micro-irrigation facilities. Mid-September plantings

coupled with black polyethylene mulch favoured better growth,

with early and higher yield of better quality fruit having lesser

incidence of botrytis rot in ‘Chandler’ strawberry. However,

staggered planting from mid-September to mid-October is

recommended for extending the period of availability of fruit for

longer time in the market and for higher profitability.

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to All India Coordinated Research

Project on Application of Plastics in Agriculture (APA), Indian

R. Singh et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 111 (2007) 344–351 351

Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for financial

assistance in carrying out the work.

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