Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Himadri S Datta, PC Barua, U Kotoky, R Das, H Saikia and HK Deva Nath

Abstract:
Spacing and mulch have got substantial impact on crop growth and yield. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of spacing and mulch on growth and yield of Strawberry. The field experiment was laid out in randomised block design (RBD) with three replications involving twenty treatments comprising of five plant spacings viz., 20 cm x 30 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm, 30 cm x 40 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm, 40 cm x 60 cm and four different mulch applications viz., paddy straw, red mulch, silver black mulch and no mulch. The data revealed that the highest number of leaves per plant (44.55), number of flowers per plant (38.69) was recorded in the widest spacing 40 cm x 60 cm. The plants under wider spacing 40 cm x 40 cm yielded fruits with the highest fruit weight (17.96 g), number of fruits per plant (32.31) and fruit yield per plant(644.31 g per plant). However, the highest marketable yield (11.80 t ha^-1) was obtained in 20 cm x 30 cm. It can be concluded that the treatment combination of 40 cm x 40 cm spacing with silver black mulch was found to be the most viable economic proposition for strawberry.