Gheith Nassour

Lattakia Research Center-
General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR)
Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University

Abstract

This study was carried out during 2008  2009 in unheated greenhouse at Sanwbar station to study the effects of compost quality and rate on growth, yield and fruit quality of two strawberry varieties (Camarosa and Festival), in 10-liters plastic pots containing organic media (sand + compost). Three compost qualities were used (sheep manure, cow manure and poultry manure) at 6 rates each (2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 %) compared with (organic + chemical) fertilized treatment.
The results showed that cow manure compost was better than those of sheep and poultry in terms of yield and fruit quality parameters (dry material, sugars, vitamin C). In addition, total fruit  acidity and nitrates content were low in the berries.
The plants grown in (organic + chemical) fertilized treatment produced large number of berries and better yield compared with plants grown in organic media.
Organic media improved fruit quality as it increased the content of dry material, sugar and vitamin C, while decreasing the content of nitrates, nitrites and acidity. A reduction in the rate of unmarketable fruits in comparison with the fruits of (organic + chemical) fertilized treatment was found.
Festival variety performance was better than that of Camarosa variety performance in most parameters of growth, yield and fruit quality when they were grown in organic media with different compost qualities.