The strawberry plant is one of the horticultural species whose cultivation area increases each year, due to the introduction of better adapted cultivars to the climatic conditions of various Brazilian regions An experiment was carried out between October 2003 and May 2004, in Ponta Grossa, to evaluate the fruit production and stolon emission of three Day-neutral cultivars (Aromas, Diamante and Seascape), submitted to different formulations of fertigation. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with three replications, arranged in a split plot scheme (4 fertilizations x 3 cultivars), with 6 plants in the subplot useful area. Fertilizations were calculated from the formulation 0.12 g m-2 nitrogen (N), 0.23 mL m-2 phosphorus (P) and 0.11 g m-2 potassium (K) in vegetative phase and 0.08 g m-2 N, 0.045 mL m-2 P and 0.39 g m-2 K for reproductive phase, corresponding to A1N rate and zero, 1/3 and 2/3 N rates used in A1N, as much for vegetative as reproductive phase. The cultivars were transplanted in October 2003 in a greenhouse with open laterals. The numbers of fruits (NFP) and stolons (NEP) of each plant, productivity and fruit mean weight (MFF) were evaluated. A0N rate favoured highest stolon emission compared to A2/3N, without differing significantly from A1N and A1/3N. Rates of N did not modify significantly the productivity, NFP and MFF. However, cultivars differed significantly from all three for all features evaluated. Cultivar Diamante had highest MFF (16.2 g) compared to the others, followed by cultivars Aromas (14.3 g) and Seascape (12.2 g). Cultivar Seascape had highest productivity to cultivar Aromas, respectively 38.1 and 28.4 t ha-1, and similar to cultivar Diamante (31.7 t ha-1). Cultivar Seascape is recommended when the market does not demand bigger fruits than 12 g of weight. If the requirement is of bigger fruits, cultivar Diamante is recommended.
Fragaria X ananassa Duch.; fertigation; stolon
