The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen concentration on the production and quality of strawberry bare root transplants and runner tips in soilless growing system. Stock plants were planted on September 13th, 2007. Transplants were harvested on February 18th, 2008. Nitrogen concentrations of 8, 11, 14 and 17 mmol L-1 in the nutrient solution were evaluated. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized design with five replications of 3.6m² plots. Number and crown diameter of bare root transplants and number of runner tips were evaluated at harvest. Number of bare root transplants and runner tips was not affected by N concentration in the nutrient solution. An average of 339 bare root transplants and 836 runner tips were harvest per stock plant. Increasing 1 mmol of N concentration of the nutrient solution decreases the crown diameter of bare root transplants in 0.4mm. In the soilless grown system with sand as substrate, the N concentration does not affect the production of bare root transplants and runner tips, but do affect crown diameter of strawberry bare root transplants.
Fragaria x ananassa Duch; hydroponics; transplants substrate
