Nutrient solution concentration on plant growth, fruit yield and quality of strawberry crop

The objective of the research was to determine the effect of nutrient solution concentration on plant growth, fruit yield and quality of the strawberry crop grown in a closed hydroponic growing system. Treatments were five nutrient solutions at electrical conductivities (EC) of 0.9; 1.8; 2.5; 3.2 and 3.8dS m(-1), in a randomised experimental design with three replications. Fruit yield and quality during the harvest period and shoot and root growth at the end of the experiment were determined. Fruit yield, fruit size and plant growth were reduced by increasing nutrient solution concentration, whereas titratable acidity and total soluble solids were increased. The EC of 0.9dS m(-1) reduces plant growth and maximizes fruit yield of the strawberry crop in the closed soilless growing system.