Substitution of mineral fertilizers with biofertilizer: an alternate to improve the growth, yield and functional biochemical properties of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Camarosa

An experiment was conducted to substitute mineral fertilizers with biofertilizers in strawberry to work out the yield, quality of strawberry and soil fertility. A 25% substitution of mineral fertilizer with biofertilizer increased the number of fruits/plant along with improving Juice content (89.55%), Total soluble solids (10.35 degrees B), total sugar (6.69%), ascorbic acid (43.80 mg 100 g(-1)), anthocyanin content (81.05 mg 100 g(-1)), total phenol (5.97 mg Gallic acid equiv. g(-1)), flavonoids (0.12 mg g(-1)) and antioxidant capacity (2.13 mu mol. Trolox equiv. 100 g(-1)). The available N and K content in post-harvest soils were improved significantly with 75% RDF + Azospirillium @ 2 g plant(-1) + PSB @ 2 g plant(-1) + topdressing of 25% K treatments (200.10 and 211.70 kg ha(-1), respectively). Viable count of soil microorganisms (Bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) was also estimated maximum (4066, 190 and 11.33 x 10(4) cfu g(-1 )dry soil, respectively) with substitution of 25% of mineral fertilizer either with Azotobacter or Azospirillum.