Effect of Spacing and Mulch on Post Harvest Disease Incidence and Sensory Evaluation in Strawberry

Aims: To study the response of plant spacing and mulch material on post harvest disease incidence and sensory evaluation in Strawberry.

Study Design: The investigation was laid in a factorial randomized block design.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Farmer’s field in Dhankhuloi village of Jorhat district,Assam and Department of Horticulture,Assam Agricultural University,Jorhat,India, during November-April of two consecutive years 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Methodology: We included twenty treatments which were the combination of five spacings viz. 20 cm x 30 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm, 30 cm x 40 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm and 40 cm x 60 cm with four mulch materials i.e. paddy straw,red mulch,silver black mulch and no mulch. Evaluation of percent post harvest disease incidence and organoleptic qualities was conducted.

Results: Out of 20 treatments, the treatment combination of widest spacing 40 cm x 60 cm along with silver black mulch showed least percent postharvest disease incidence (18.90%) while maximum incidence (42.82%) was obtained in no mulch applied plots with 20 cm x 30 cm spacing. Sensory evaluation showed treatment combination of 40 cm x 40 cm spacing with silver black mulch exhibited better organoleptic qualities.

Conclusion: Positive effects of wider spacing and silver black mulch material might have contributed to least post harvest disease incidence in strawberry. Fruits of strawberry mulched with silver black plastic and wider spacing owing to favourable microclimate may have contributed to a sweeter taste and, consequently, better consumer acceptance.