2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Strawberries are typically produced in an open field production system, in which the production can be subjected to various constraints such as weed and pest control, a limited growing season, fuel costs and quality loss associated with long-distance transport. Greenhouse hydroponic cultivation allows year-round and local production of strawberries and helps circumvent soil-related issues while increasing efficiency and sustainability. Utilizing soilless media that are cost-effective and locally available could further reduce production costs and lead to better crop growth and yield. Ground parboiled rice hull media could be an alternative because it is local and inexpensive, and increases water holding capacity when incorporated into the growing media. The aim of this experiment was to compare different soilless media on strawberry greenhouse production in a hydroponic system. Four substrates were chosen: coconut coir, Steadygrow, Rockwool, and a ground parboiled rice hull mixture (40% rice hulls, 30% peat moss, 20% perlite, and 10% vermiculite). A drip irrigation/fertilizer injection system delivered a complete nutrient solution containing 80 ppm N to the plants. Strawberry growth data such as height, number of leaves and runners, and the number of flowers and fruit were recorded weekly. Ripe fruits were harvested twice a week and fresh weight was recorded. The volume of leachate, pH and EC were monitored. At harvest, total fresh and dry weights of the plants along with leaf area were taken. The fruit fresh weight and yield were both considerably higher for coconut coir and rice hull mixture although growth parameters such as height and leaf number were relatively the same among the media. Strawberries grown in coconut coir had the largest leaf area while there was no significant difference among the rest of the media. Fruit production was similar between treatments but showed a trend with coconut coir and rice hull media producing the largest number of fruits as well as the highest fruit fresh weight. The total number of fruits at harvest was the highest for rice hull media although dry weight was not significantly different among the treatments. Each of the treatments were similar with the leachate volume, pH and EC during production. It is concluded that strawberry plants grown in rice hull mixture perform equal to or greater than the ones in the other media tested. It is concluded that rice hull mixture is a sustainable alternative that could possibly be one of the highest performing media for strawberry production.