Optimization of Mulching for Growth and Yield of Strawberry Genotypes in a Subtropical Region

Strawberry is mainly a temperate fruit crop but grow in tropical and sub-tropical regions due to the development of day-neutral varieties. Mulching plays an important role in adaptability, performance, and yield. However, there has been no report describing the performance of strawberry genotypes with mulching practices in Bangladesh. Therefore, this research was aimed at determining the impact of mulching on morpho-physiology, yield and yield attributes. The study was two factorial RCBD with three replications with six genotypes. Various morph-physiological, biochemical and yield attributing data were recorded. Mass distribution and pigments content of the leaves of American festival and BARI 1 decreased in comparison to Linosa and Rabi 3. Genotype Linosa provides fruit for longer periods followed by BARI 1 and Rabi 3 under mulch condition while Sweet Charlie does opposite. However, sugar content (ºBrix) was maximum in Linosa and Rabi 3 but has low level of antioxidant activity, where Rabi 3 has low level of vitamin B and C. BARI 1 has high level of Vitamin B and C with lower level of sugar content and antioxidant activity (64.75%). In this case, the American festival had the medium levels of sugar contents with balanced levels of vitamin B and C and antioxidant activity Among all the genotypes, the Sweet Charlie has the highest level of antioxidant activity. Although the BARI 1 with mulches provided better yield despite of heat sensitivity but Rabi 3 with mulches showed the best performance in terms of its response in growth, yield and biochemical parameters compared to rest of the genotypes. Keywords: Morphophysiology, intercultural operations, organic mulch, soil microbial biomass, nutrient cycling.