Use of floating row covers in annual hill plasticulture strawberries

Abstract

The response of strawberry plants in the annual hill plasticulture system to the use of lightweight nonwoven rowcovers (17g/square meter) during the fall establishment period, winter and early spring was investigated. These fabrics can provide some cold and wind dessication protection and can also increase soil and air temperatures around the plant. The increased temperatures under the cover may simulate increased flower bud formation during the short day induction cycles in the fall and spring. Additionally, the covers may provide a protective environment where leaves remain functional for longer periods and crown and root development may be stimulated. In this study, row covers were installed and removed at various intervals from October through March. In addition to the uncovered control plants, the following row cover timings were imposed: Oct.-Mar., Oct.-Feb., Oct.- Dec., Oct.-Nov., Nov.-Mar., Oct.-Feb., Oct.-Jan., Oct.-Dec., Oct.-Nov., Nov.-Mar., Dec.-Mar., Jan.-Mar., and Feb.-Mar. Treatments were reduced from 8 to 6 in the last year of the study. The weight of marketable berries was affected by year and by treatment. Average performance for the four year period showed the Oct.-Feb. treatment to have the highest yields followed by Oct.-Nov. and Feb.-Mar. The Jan.-Mar. performed worse than the control in terms of both yield and berry size. Average berry weight was improved in theOct.-Feb. and Oct.-Nov. treatment. Row covers in the best treatment (Oct.-Feb.) improved marketable yield by an average of 35% over the control. © 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.