Effect of Iron (Fe - EDDHA), Calcium Chloride and Zinc Sulphate on Vegetative Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch. Cv. Pajaro)

In this study, effect of foliar application of Iron, calcium chloride and zinc on vegetative and reproductive growth, yield and some quality characteristics of strawberry “Pajaro” fruit were investigated. The treatments included zinc sulfate at three levels (50, 100 and 150 mg l^-1), Iron (Fe - EDDHA) at three levels (250, 500 and 1000 mg l^ -1), calcium chloride at two levels (5 and 10 mM) and distilled water as a control. Iron (500 mg l ^-1) and zinc sulfate (150 mg l^-1) increased number of runners, plant dry weigh and length of roots of plant. Sprays of zinc sulfate at 150 mg l^-1, Iron at 1000 mg l^-1 and calcium chloride at 10 mM increased significantly length of flowering period, number of flowers, weight of primary and secondary fruit and number of achenes of primary and secondary fruit . The highest percentage of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid were attained in fruits treated with zinc sulfate at 150 mg l^-1 and calcium chloride at 10 mM and the lowest was achieved in the control. In general, spraying zinc sulfate at 150 mg and calcium at 10 mM is recommended for increasing the strawberry yield.