Abstract

Utilization of waste materials is now getting popularity in agriculture production as a part of organic management. In the present experiment liquid manure from kitchen waste along with animal and plant parts was prepared and utilized them for strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) cv. Sweet Charlie production. The aim of the study was to see the effect of liquid manure on improvement of vegetative growth, yield and quality of strawberry fruits grown in high pH soil (8.2) at Lucknow subtropical condition of Uttar Pradesh, India. Runners of strawberry was planted at the spacing of 30 x 30 cm accommodating 9 plants per plot following randomized block design comprising 10 treatments replicated thrice. The results showed that use of treatment T₇ increased the plant height recorded at different dates after transplanting as compared to other treatments. The treatment T₇ was found to be better for improvement of vegetative growth, recording maximum number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, length and breadth of leaves and also caused early flowering (75.33 days after transplanting), maximum number of flowers per plant and maximum yield (fruits/plant and kg/ha). Similarly, good quality fruits having maximum TSS (9.3°B) and ascorbic acid (54.75 mg/100 g) were obtained under treatment T₇, though acidity was increased (0.91%) in this treatment. Thus, it can clearly be concluded that, liquid manure is effective for crop growth, better yield and good quality fruits.

Key words: Liquid manuring, quality, strawberry, yield.