Nanhe Lal Saroj, Pritam Coomar Barua, Karobi Handique, Gerik Bagra, Viplaw Kumar and Sachin Kishor
Abstract
The experiment entitled âEffect of Different Electrical Conductances and Vertical Hydroponics Systems on Fruit Quality Traits of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawnââ was carried under a Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, Assam during the year 2019-21. The experiment was laid out in a factorial completely randomized block design with three types of vertical hydroponics systems viz., T1, T2, and T3, and two EC levels viz., L1 (1.8 dSm-1) and L2 (2.5 dSm-1) and six replications. Among the three vertical hydroponics systems T1 and L1 were found to be the best for Quality contributing characteristics. The significant effect of vertical hydroponics system T1 and L1 was observed in NAR (1.35mg cm-2 day-1) and (1.34mg cm-2 day-1), Reducing sugars (5.18%) and (4.94%), Non-reducing sugars (1.93 %) and (1.87 %), Total soluble solids (7.700Brix) and (7.320Brix), Total sugars (7.11 %) and (6.81 %), Titrable acidity (0.62 %) and (0.68 %), Ascorbic acid (34.99 mg/100 g. pulp) and (33.48 mg/100 g. pulp), Moisture (92.00 %) and (91.74%), Ash content (0.72%) and (0.71 %), Potassium (2.93 mg/100g) and(2.91mg/100g) and Phosphorus (1.25 mg/100g) and (1.25 mg/100g) compared to other vertical hydroponics system and EC levels. was found highest in T1, L1 and T1xL1. Among the two EC and three vertical hydroponic systems, significant differences in quality characteristicswere observed primarily due to differences in Net Assimilation Rate (NAR) availability. A higher NAR availability led to a higher rate of photosynthesis, better growth, and better quality of the fruits of the plants in the T1. Therefore, some modifications such as A-shape or V-shape designs are suggested in the vertical hydroponics system to improve NAR availability in the column type and Shelf-type. Among both E.C levels, the effect of EC 1.8 was found to be the best for quality contributing characteristics of strawberries.