The effect of biostimulator applications on nutrient composition of strawberries

Abstract

This study was carried out in greenhouse on strawberries grown in a column system in Uzundere district, Erzurum, Turkey. The biostimulator 'Macrocrop' and 'Goldmarine' were foliar-applied to the cv. Fern at the rates of 250, 500 and 750 ppm 1, 2, 4and 8 times at 15 days intervals beginning 15 days after planting. Two months after the last application, the content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn in the leaves was analyzed. According to the results, there were significant differences between the treatments. The nutrient composition was higher in the plants treated with the biostimulators than in the control. Nitrogen (N) content was 2,48% in the control whereas in the plants treated 4 times with 250 ppm it was 3,40% and those treated once with 250 ppm of Goldmarine had 3,06% of nitrogen. In all rates of biostimulator, there was a negative relationship between application frequency and N content. Calcium (Ca) content was 1.63% in the control plants whereas the plants that received Macrocrop once at the rate of 750 ppm and those to which Goldmarine was applied once at the rate of 750 ppm had 2,38%. Similarly, iron (Fe) content was 213 ppm in the control whereas in the plants that received Goldmarine four times at the rate of 500 ppm and in those with Macrocrop four times at the rate of 500 ppm, it was 1120 ppm.