Download Strawberry Cultivation in Semi-arid Lands

Strawberry Cultivation
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Climate
Temperate climate
Mild temperatures
Full sun - 6 hours per day
Winter/Spring Growth
Dormant during winter
Exposure to very low temperatures can break
dormancy for normal winter temperatures
Frost damage occurs at -2 degrees C
Growth resumes during spring
Position on ground for least risk of frost
On highest ground
Close to earth
Preferred Soil Characteristics
Well-drained
High in organic matter
Medium loam - clay/sand mix?
Slightly acidic for root formation - 5.7 to
6.5 pH
Green manure
However, the plant is fairly adaptable
Avoid in Soil
Excessive calcium - causes yellowing of
leaves
Planting on same land for many years
High pH - alkaline soil
Soil infected with nematodes
High salinity - salt intolerant
Soil Preparation
Start 1 month before planting
Roots are shallow, but plow deep
Use as much organic matter as
possible
Create beds - hill or matted rows, or
raised for better drainage
Apply fertilizer a few days before
planting
Soil with Poor Drainage
Input more organic matter
Plant on hills or raised beds to facilitate
drainage
Water Requirements
Planting and early growth
2 to 3 hours per day
Growing season
3cm per week
Flowering and Fruiting
Drip system
Average Rainfall at CYEC and Lamuria??
Water Requirements for
Plastic Beds
Mostly the same as normal
requirements
46cm in a 200 day season
83 liters per plant per season
Plant uses 55% of water applied
Require more than 3cm per week if
warm dry conditions are extended
Water Stress
Interferes with photosynthetic activity
Reduces growth potential
Deficiencies accumulate over season
Fruit per plant can decrease by 30%
80% if severe
Ripening accelerated
Smaller fruit size
“Surecrop”
A more drought tolerant type
Larger root system
Soil moisture should not fall below 50% field
capacity
Best at 65%
Check for moisture on leaves in morning with bucket over
plant at night
Irrigation
Shallow roots susceptible to drought
Plant on ridges if irrigating
Should be frequent after planting new runners
First two months
Twice per week without rain
Third month
Weekly
Fourth and fifth months
Every two weeks
Fruiting begins
Increase again for larger fruits
Micro-irrigation
Water management is crucial for this low
surface creeping plant with shallow roots
Drip system + micro sprinkler system
Supplies precise water to crop according to growth
stage
Planting and early vegetative growth
Micro sprinkler
Flowering and Fruiting
Drip system - uniform and timely
Fertilizer
Green manure, organic matter, and
farm yard manure suggested
50 tons per hectare
Improves water holding capacity
Better runner formation
Can supplement with chemical fertilizers
Fertilizer
Nitrogen
Moderate amounts required
Apply 2 times
3 weeks after planting
At time of flowering
Phosphorus
Incorporate into soil before planting
Fertilizer Application
A few days before planting
0.5kg per 100 square feet
10/10/10 fertilizer
Dig into soil 15-20cm deep
Again after first harvest for the second
season
Water fertilizer to allow it to reach root zone
Promotes growth
Causes development of more fruit
Over-fertilization
Causes excessive vegetative growth, reduced
yields, increased loss from foliage diseases
Plasticulture Technology
For high density cultivation in semi-arid
regions
Study conducted in semi-arid India
Strawberries sometimes referred to as
“plasticberries” for plasticulture
techniques used…
Plasticulture - Raised Bed
Cultivation
Aids drainage
Facilitates installation of micro irrigation
system
Height 25cm
Width 105cm
Length 50cm
50cm apart from each other
Plant runners 25cm by 25cm, 4 rows per bed
Plasticulture - Micro Irrigation
Micro sprinkler - planting/early growth
Install 3 meters apart for uniform application
Water 2 to 3 hours per day
Drip system - flowering/fruiting
2 lines of 16mm laterals on each bed
Space drippers to 50cm
Water 2 or 3 times per week
More efficient with water soluble fertilizers
Plasticulture - Plastic Mulching
Very effective for higher yield
Conserves soil moisture
Weed control
Clean fruit
Protects from soil contamination
Black polyethylene
Install drip system before mulching
Holes for plants to rise above film
Drip system remains before plastic
Install after runners established, before
flowering starts
30-34 days after planting
Plasticulture - plastic tunnels
Keeps soil temperatures high
Earlier flowering
Higher fruit yield
Transparent polyethylene
50cm in height
Open during day, closed at night
Remove with higher temperatures
Cultivars
More tolerant of drought
“Surecrop”
For hilly areas
Royal Sovereign, Srinager, Dilpasand
Rich aroma, softer
Katrain Sweet
Successful in warmest parts of U.S.,
hypothesized to also be successful in Indian
semi-arid plains - may also work in Kenya!
Premier Florida-90, Missionary, Blackmore,
Klonmore, Klondike
Propagation
Runners - most common method
Use those formed after blooming
But runners hard to find in semi-arid regions
Cultured planting material
Preferred due to presence of different strains of
virus tissue
Import from western countries
Seeds & stem cuttings
Important to buy disease-free plants from
reliable nursery
Instead of your own / neighbor’s plants
Planting
Avoid exposed open areas
Full sun - 6 hours per day
Avoid soil that previously grew
Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes
Verticillium wilt - serious strawberry disease
Grasses
wireworms
Planting - Seedlings
Use rooted seedlings
90% establishment rate or higher
Unrooted
Less than 60% establishment
Ensure potting is sterile
Avoid transmitting pests
Transplant during rainy season
Supplementary water not required
Planting - Beds & Runners
Raised beds
Feasible
Most used in commercial cultivation
Runners
Plant 25cm by 25cm with 4 rows in each
bed
Planting - Row Systems
Matted
Plants 46-76cm apart
Rows 1 meter apart
Least care needed
Allow daughter plants to root freely
Becomes matted, 60cm wide (2ft)
Spaced
Plants 46-76cm apart
Rows 1 meter apart
More care needed
Limit daughter plants - space to root 10cm apart
Other runners pulled / cut
Higher yields, larger berries, fewer diseases
Hill
Best system
All runners removed, weed & mulch in week 1-3
Only mother plant remains - develops more
2, 3, or 4 plants 30cm apart in many rows
Planting - Timing
Plant as soon as possible in spring
Establishment before hottest weather
Do not plant if soil wet!
Plant early
Runner establish earlier
Earlier fruit yield
Higher yield
Stagger planting for longer fruit availability
Not all fruit, or profit, comes in at once
Suggested
Plant on cloudy day during late afternoon
Planting - Depth
Soil should just cover the tops of roots
Do not cover crown
Runners and daughter plants should
produce after 4 to 5 weeks
Planting -Flowering
Requires 10 days of 8 hours of sun or
less for flower initiation
Development of flower buds
Overbearing variety
During long and short light periods
Commercial varieties
During short light periods only
Flowers produce early in spring
Pests
Sap beetle - eat holes in plant
Slug - feeds on berries
Leafhoppers - eat leaves, reduce
photosynthesis
Leafroller - feeds on leaves
Aphids - carry viruses transmitted to plant
Grubs - foot on roots
Root weevils - eat leaves, sign the larvae
feeding on roots also
Harvest
Fruiting happens after 3 to 4 months
Look for
1/2 to 3/4 berries having natural crimson color
Slightly soft
Darkening seeds
Harvest daily, early morning, dry conditions
Pinch between thumb and forefinger, pull with
twisting motion, leave stem on fruit
Easily damaged, highly perishable
Carefully collect in shallow trays to prevent
bruising
Do not wash - contributes to spoiling
Yields
Varies with season and locality
Excellent
20-25 tons per hectare
Good, more realistic
15 tons per hectare
Post Harvest
Should be used within a few days to a week
Wash when ready to eat
Should not leave at room temperature for
several hours
Warm temperature causes browning and vitamin
C loss
Can be dried successfully
Solar drier for best results
1 year shelf life
Storage
Pack in flat, shallow container
Cardboard, bamboo, paper trays
Plastic is best
1 or 2 layers
Keep in cool place away from heat/warm air
Use within a few days
Refrigerator storage does not extend life of
strawberries after harvest or improve quality
Transportation to markets
Cost?
Refrigerated vans suggested
Not feasible/available in Kenya
Nutritional Benefits
Good source of
Folic Acid
Good for women’s health, reduces birth defects
Potassium
Maintains fluids, promotes faster healing
Dietary fiber
Vitamin C
Supports immune system, aids growth
Manganese
Bone formation, hormone function
Demand / Income Potential
Markets exist and are readily available
High demand in urban areas and foreign
markets
Scarce, high costs in markets
Limited production
Lack of knowledge to manage crop
Costly materials
High value crop
Large potential for income and employment
generation
Even more so with Value added products
Juice, jams*, maybe dried?
Where to buy Seedlings?
Less than 5% roadside nurseries sell strawberry
seedlings
Stock a few at a time
No information on plant management
Prices
$0.45 to $0.65 per plant
~ 36Ksh to 52Ksh
Limuru
Small scale agro-enterprise here specializing in strawberry
seedling production
Price: $0.35 each ~ 28Ksh
Sold unrooted - harder to establish (less than 60%
establishment rate with unrooted, greated than 90% with
rooted seedlings)
Provides basic planting and crop management training for
free
More detailed for $7 per person ~ 564Ksh
My “Vision”
Already being grown at CYEC
There may not be any constraints to growing if they already
are
Transportation costs if selling?
Supplies to store / sell?
Will see how it goes…
Problems with kids stealing berries?
CYEC should be able to make a good profit, if they
can grow enough to sell and are successful with
strawberry cultivation
Where do profits go?
Who participates in the harvesting, packaging, marketing?
Drying is a good idea
Slice, dry under sun or in solar dryer
How to get a dryer - use for tomatoes/other veg!
Year long shelf life if packed in moisture proof containers
Can make into powder to add flavor to other foods