Grass Living Mulch for Strawberries

Abstract

‘Sparkle’ and ‘Honeoye’ strawberries ( Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) were planted into plots of newly seeded perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.), winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), or no grass. After a 1985 windstorm during the green fruit stage, yield was higher in living mulch plots than in control plots and fruit from control plots were small and dark relative to those from the ryegrass plots. In 1986, all plots had similar yields. All plants grew at similar rates during the establishment year. Later, strawberry plants in living mulch plots had smaller leaves than plants in control plots. Plants in all treatments contained above the critical concentrations of leaf N on most sampling dates. Soil under grass was less compacted and was cooler than cultivated soil. Living mulch prevented annual weed establishment after the first and improved winter survival of flower buds. A tillering type of ryegrass was the best living mulch of the three species tested. It quickly covered the ground but did not spread into the crop rows, and grew tall enough to afford wind protection.