The Influence of NH4:NO3 Ratio on the Growth and Yield of Strawberry Grown under Hydroponic Conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc student, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran; Corresponding author, Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran, respectivley

2 MSc student, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tabriz

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran, respectivley.

Abstract

Nitrogen is taken up by the higher plants in both nitrate and ammonium forms with different physiological impacts on the plant. An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of NH4:NO3 ratio in nutrient solution on the yield and quality of hydroponically grown strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch) cvs 'Camarosa' and 'Selva'. Six replications per treatment were involved in a randomized complete block experiment. Four nutrient solutions differing in NH4:NO3 ratio (0:100, 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25) were applied. The nutrient solutions had significant effects on the strawberry plants so that the highest leaf area was observed in the plant grown with 25:75 ratio. Flower and fruit number were not affected by the solutions however, the weight of individual fruit increased with 25:75 ratio. Both high ratios of NH4 and NO3 in the solution reduced the yield. The yield was reduced by 33% and 80% in cvs Camarosa and Selva respectively, when the NH4 concentration increased from 25% to 75% in the solution. The highest and lowest photosynthesis (Pn) rate in both cultivars were observed at 25:75 and 75:25 ratios, respectively. Increased NH4 ratio in the solution significantly reduced postharvest life of the fruits in both cultivars. Both higher leaf area and Pn rate appeared to be the reason for the increased yield and plant growth in the 25:75 ratios of NH4:NO3. Therefore, a combination of two forms of N in an appropriate ratio (25NH4:75NO3) promote the strawberry plant growth, yield and quality.

Keywords

References

  1. خلد برین ، بهمن واسلام زاده ، طاهره . 1380. تغذیه معدنی گیاهان عالی (ترجمه). انتشارات دانشگاه شیراز.
  2. طباطبائی سیدجلال، مسیحا، سیروس و رضائی، محمد رسول. 1382. انکوباتور آموزشی تولید محصولات گلخانه‌ای در سیستم هایدروپونیک. گزارش کار تحقیقاتی. کار آفرینی دانشگاه تبریز.
  3. Barker, A.V. and Maynard, D. N. 1971. Cation and nitrate accumulation in pea and cucumber plant as influenced by nitrogen nutrition. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 9, 27-30.
  4. Barker, A. V. And Mills, H. A. 1980. Ammonium and nitrate nutrition of horticultural crops. Hort. Rev. 2: 395-423.
  5. Claussen, W. and Lenz, F. 1995. Effect of ammonium and nitrate on net photosynthesis, flower formation, growth and yield of eggplant. Plant Soil. 171, 267-274.
  6. Errebhi, M. and Wilcox, G. E. 1990. Plant species response to ammonium: nitrate concentration ratios. J. Plant Nutr. 13, 1017-1029.
  7. Gerendas, J., Zhu, Z., Bendixen, R. and Sattelmacher, B. 1997. Physiological and biochemical process related to ammonium toxicity in higher plant. Z. Pflanzenernahr. Bodenk. 160, 239 –251.
  8. Goromy, R. and Sharples, S.O. 1985. The effect of modern production metodes on the quality of tomato and apples. Commision of the European Communities. pp. 93-102.
  9. Gould, W.A. 1992. Tomato production, processing and technology. pp. 345-347. Bookcrafters. VA, USA.
  10. Hartman, P. I., Mills, H. A. and Jones, J. B. 1986. The influence of nitrate: ammonium ratios on growth, fruit development and element concentration in Floradel tomato plants .J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 111, 487-490.
  11. Kotsiras, A., Olympios, C. M., Drosopoulos, J. and Passam, H. C. 2002. Effect of nitrogen form and concentration on the distribution of ions within cucumber fruit. J. Am. Sci. Hort. 95, 175-183.
  12. Levis, O. A. M and Camber, M. D. 1993. The influence of nitrate and ammonium nutrition on the growth of wheat and maize plant. J. Ann. 72 ,359-365.
  13. Magalhaes, J. R and Wilcox, G. F. 1983. Tomato growth and nutrition uptake pattern as influenced by nitrogen form and light intensity. J. Plant Nutr. 6,941-956.
  14. Mengel, K and Pilbeam, D. J. 1992. Nitrogen metabolism of plants. Oxford Science Publications. Oxford, UK p. 54-70.
  15. Sharma, R. M and Yamdagni, A. 2000. Modern strawberry cultivation. Kalyani Publishing. Indian, Dehli.
  16. Sonneveld, C. 2002. Composition of nutrient solutions. In:Savvas, D. Passam, H. C. (Eds). Hydroponic production of vegetables and ornamentals. Embryo Publications, Athens, Greece, pp.179-210.
  17. Takacs, E. and Tecsi, L. 1992. Effect of nitrate : ammonium ratios on photosynthetic rates, nitrate reductase activity and chloroplast ultra structure in three cultivars of red pepper . (Capsicum  annuum  L.) J. Plant Physiol. 140,228-305.
Iranian Journal of Soil Research
Volume 20, Issue 1
May 2006
Pages 41-50

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics