Barua, Pritam CoomarDatta, Himadri Shekhar2023-12-122023-12-122022https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202704The present study on ―Response of crop geometry and management practices on growth and shelf life of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch)‖ was conducted at the farmer‘s field in Dhankhuloi village of Jorhat district, Assam during the consecutive years 2019-20 and 2020-21 to assess the effects of varied spacing and different mulch material on growth, yield and quality parameters of strawberry. The field experiment was laid out in randomised block design (RBD) with three replications involving twenty treatments comprising of five plant spacings viz., 20 cm x 30 cm (S1), 30 cm x 30 cm (S2), 30 cm x 40 cm (S3), 40 cm x 40 cm (S4), 40 cm x 60 cm (S5) and four different mulch applications viz., paddy straw (M1), red mulch (M2), silver black mulch (M3) and no mulch (M4). After crop harvest, a laboratory experiment was carried out with five treatments involving dipping of freshly harvested berries in Hexanal with varying strengths viz., 1% Hexanal for 2.5 minutes (V1), 1% Hexanal for 5 minutes (V2), 2% Hexanal for 2.5 minutes (V3) and 2% Hexanal for 5 minutes (V4). Undipped berries were considered for control treatment (V5). Both hexanal treated and berries under control treatment were stored at ambient temperature for evaluation of shelf life. The study revealed that the spacing had a substantial impact on crop growth, yield and quality of strawberry. The pooled data revealed that the highest number of leaves per plant (44.55), leaf area (86.77 cm2), number of flowers per plant (38.69), root volume (23.62 cc), minimum days from first flower opening to fruit setting (6.30 days) and days required for initiation of first ripening (63.61 days) were recorded in the widest spacing S5 (40 cm x 60 cm) while minimum days to appearance of first flower (37.85 days) was documented in closest spacing S1 (20 cm x 30 cm). The plants under wider spacing S4 (40 cm x 40 cm) yielded fruits with the highest fruit weight (17.96 g) and number of fruits per plant (32.31). The fruit yield per plant increased significantly with increase in plant spacing and registered maximum of 644.31 g per plant in S4. However, the highest marketable yield (11.80 t ha-1) was obtained in S1. The physical and chemical attributes of fruits were found to be superior in S5 viz., the maximum total sugar (6.31%), reducing sugar (5.59%) and ascorbic acid (78.65 mg 100 g-1) including minimum post harvest disease incidence (27.42%) during both the years of study. The vegetative and reproductive growth of plants varied with the type of mulch used. Highest number of leaves per plant (53.67), leaf area (100.75 cm2), number 6 of flowers per plant (48.73) along with the minimum days required for appearance of the first flower (34.69 days), days from first flower opening to fruit setting (5.31 days) and days required for initiation of first ripening (53.59 days) were recorded with application of silver black mulch (M3). The maximum number of fruits per plant (42.11), fruit weight (22.40 g), fruit yield per plant (945.87 g) and marketable fruit yield (18.98 t ha-1) was obtained with application of silver black mulch (M3). Similarly, treatment M3 produced fruits of superior quality recording the maximum TSS (12.75° Brix), total sugar (6.38%), reducing sugar (5.61%) and ascorbic acid (85.81 mg 100g-1) including minimum post harvest disease incidence of 21.37%. The interaction effect of spacing and mulch revealed that maximum fruit weight (23.12 g), total number of fruits per plant (50.49), fruit yield per plant (1167.91 g), total sugar (6.49%) and reducing sugar (5.72%) was recorded with the treatment combination T15 (40 cm x 40 cm spacing with silver black mulch).The highest marketable yield (22.75 t ha-1) was obtained in T3 (20 cm x 30 cm with silver black mulch). However, the treatment combination T15 yielded highest benefit: cost ratio (3.07). Dipping of fruits in 2% Hexanal for 2.5 minutes (V3) was found to be the most efficacious treatment for prolonging shelf life of strawberry. Maximum fruit firmness (5.88 N mm-1) and shelf life (5.90 days) was obtained in treatment V3, thereby extending the marketing period of the fruit. Based on yield, quality and economics, the treatment combination T15 (40 cm x 40 cm spacing with silver black mulch) was found to be the most viable economic proposition for strawberry in Jorhat condition of Assam. Additionally, dipping the berries in 2% Hexanal for two and half minutes extended the shelf life of strawberry. Thus, the research investigation highlighted the fact that crop geometry and management practices govern yield parameters and shelf life of the high valued crop, strawberry.EnglishThesis