Development of a functional plug tray for producing high-quality strawberry transplants

Abstract

This study was conducted to develop functional plug trays capable of optimizing the root growth environment and inducing early flowering in strawberry plants. Experimental treatments included trays with no drainage slit, two drainage slits, four drainage slits, and a control bottom drainage hole or commercial tray. The effect of the functional plug trays was studied on two strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars (‘Seolhyang’ and ‘Maehyang’) and two different rooting media (commercial medium and peat moss wrapped in a paper pot). The experimental units were arranged in a completely randomized design, with five and four replications for nursery and post-transplanting studies, respectively. Shoot and root growth characteristics and rhizosphere temperature were measured in the nursery study and flowering and yield in the post-transplanting study. Growth parameter results showed that compared to the existing plug trays, the new trays with two and four slits produced transplants of significantly higher quality. These treatments induced lower root temperature in rooting media and plants generally flowered earlier, thus providing higher early and total yields regardless of the media or cultivars used. This effect was further enhanced as the number of drainage holes increased. Thus, an increase in the number of drainage slits in plug trays can lead to higher-quality transplants that can flower and produce fruits earlier than those with poor drainage.