Impact of Plant Spacing and Mulch on Growth Parameters of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.)

Plant spacing and mulch material have got tremendous influence on crop growth and yield.Proper crop spacing aids in adequate harvesting of solar radiation and sufficient absorption of nutrients and moisture from the soil due to well developed root system which can be accommodated by making changes in inter and intra row spacing.Although plant spacing has a prominent influence on plant growth and development but has received a sort of slight attention in strawberry cultivation.Mulching controls or increases soil temperature, maintains soil moisture, improves water and nutrient absorption and reduces weed growth.These factors have tremendous influence on crop growth and as Strawberry is a surface feeder, mulching plays a very important role.The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of spacing and mulch on growth of Strawberry. The present experiment was carried out during 2019-20 and 2020-21 in Jorhat, Assam with the objective to assess the influence of spacing and mulch on growth of Strawberry.The experiment was laid out in randomized block Design with 2 factors viz. spacing and mulch 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) and the data of individual years were subjected to pooled analysis.The treatments significantly influenced the various parameters. The experiment's findings showed that mulch material and the plant spacing had a favorable effect on strawberry growth.The pooled data revealed that 40 cm x 60 cm spacing with silver black mulch recorded maximum leaf area, Leaf Relative Water Content and minimum days from first flower opening to fruit setting which may have influence on crop yield.Standardization of spacing and mulch material according to agroclimatic condition will help farmers to cultivate Strawberry on commercial level.