How to improve strawberry productivity, nutrients composition, and beneficial rhizosphere microflora by biofertilization and mineral fertilization?

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of fertilizer types on the counts of soil microorganisms, the mineral leaf composition, and productivity of three strawberry cultivars in the period 2012–2013. Two types of fertilizers were applied—mineral and microbiological. Significantly higher number of Azotobacter, ammonifiers, oligonitrophils, and total microbial count were observed under biofertilizers treatment. Significantly higher counts of fungi and actinomycetes were obtained under mineral fertilizer treatment, compared to other fertilizer treatments. The use of mineral fertilizer led to the most favorable balance of macronutrients and micronutrients in the leaf. In 2012, the generative potential and yield increased after mineral fertilization, whereas in 2013 these parameters were positively affected by mineral fertilizer and Biofertilizer 1. Given the obtained results, in order to improve technology of strawberry production, a partial substitution of mineral fertilizers by microbiological ones can be recommended.

Keywords:

• biofertilizers
• leaf mineral composition
• mineral fertilizers
• number of microorganisms
• strawberry
• yield

Additional information

Funding

This study is the part of the projects No. 31093 and No. 46008, financed by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological development of the Republic of Serbia.