The effects of Maleic Hydrazide (MH) in controlling strawberry plant populations were studied. Foliar applications of MH at 1000 ppm resulted in reduced runner length. The effect of MH sprays appeared to be directly related to the stage of rooting at the time of spray applications. Rooted plants were affected less than non-rooted plants. By the end of the growing season (Oct. 31) plant populations were significantly less than the control (matted row) and equaled that of a hand thinned treatment. Sprayed and hand-pruned plots were significantly lower in yield and fruit number. Berry size was the same for all treatments. / Master of Science

Hydroponics basically is the method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Vertical nutrient film technique (NFT) is one of the most used hydroponic technique that has constant flow of nutrient solution. In this study the effects of different support medium on strawberry quality and yield using vertical NFT in glass greenhouse was investigated. NFT-only system was compared to rockwool, coco fiber, perlite and expanded clay as supporting medium for strawberry production. Parameters such as weight of product, amount of product, rate of marketable product, and including physico-chemical properties such as pH, rigidity, color, dry matter amount, EC, vitamin C, sugar content, resistance to certain pathogens were observed among all supporting medium trials. NFT-only system significantly differed from other supporting medium trails by most of the parameters including fruit number per plant, average fruit weight, toughness of the fruit, vitamin C amount, sugar amount and finally soluble solid material amount in water . Revealing the effects of supporting medium on strawberry production shed light on how should NFT must be applied to fruit growing.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / The objective of this thesis is to determine if contract farming of fresh strawberries in Oceanside California is financially feasible. This is being considered as an alternative to managing the 185 acre fresh strawberry farm. The farming business is owned by a large fresh fruit marketing firm. As an independent custom grower I would not be subject to the same constraints as the marketing firm. No changes to management structure or product quality would be necessitated by this change. Assumptions for this study are specific to operating requirements for producing winter strawberries in North San Diego County in California. The cultural practices described and inputs used are considered to be usual for a well-managed commercial farm. The cost and returns are based upon actual historical data and representative of similar if not exact cultural practices and material inputs. The conceptual model used to guide the development of this study was taken from a generic feasibility study framework. It served as a controlled process to analyze the situation and determine the financial outcomes. The economic and financial viability analysis includes costs and returns per acre, monthly cash costs, sensitivity analysis, and overall profitability. The method used to assess the dimensions of viability was to weight them by evaluating key characteristics for relative strengths and weaknesses. The recommendation based upon this assessment is that the overall viability of the proposal is more than 80% and therefore merits the development of a comprehensive business plan.

At present, the global population is increasing, while soil and fresh water resources for crop production are declining. It is important to adopt sustainable practices to optimise the use of limited natural resources without compromising the environment, and to enhance continuous production in the long term. The rapid growth of UK strawberry industry has been achieved through the precision use of varieties, nutrients and polythene tunnels. This intensive production has caused significant environmental impacts especially Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the production. Strawberry powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) is a major fungal disease affecting strawberry production worldwide particularly in polythene tunnels. The disease can result in yield losses of up to 70% of the crop. A ruleQbased system was used in the field trials to predict high risk days of P. aphanis development, taking into account the optimal environmental conditions conducive to conidial germination and disease development. The results (Chapter 3) showed that the use of this prediction system achieved satisfactory control of P. aphanis in commercial strawberry production, with reduced fungicide applications compared with commercial spray programme. The results were consistent in two consecutive years and on different varieties. In addition, it was suggested that the use of the prediction system may also lead to lower GHG emissions associated with fewer fungicide applications, thereby benefit strawberry growers both environmentally and economically. Results from 2014 & 2015 silicon fertigation trials showed that the use of a silicon nutrient via the fertigation system reduced the strawberry susceptibility to P. aphanis and twoQspotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) in two consecutive years on different varieties (Chapter 4). In both years, crops received the silicon nutrient only without fungicides had both lower rate of epidemic (r) and lower value of Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) (r = 0.0036, AUDPC = 475 in 2014; r = 0.001, AUDPC = 267 in 2015) compared with the untreated control (r = 0.0042, AUDPC = 662 in 2014; r = 0.0011, AUDPC = 281 in 2015). Silicon also delayed the epidemic buildQup in the silicon nutrient only treatment for approximately two weeks compared with the untreated control. Crops from the silicon nutrient plus fungicides treatment had lower susceptibility (r = 0.0012 in 2014; r = 0.0004 in 2015) than those from the fungicides only treatment (r = 0.0017 in 2014; r = 0.0005 in 2015) suggesting that the silicon nutrient may also enhance fungicides performance in reducing the epidemic buildQup when used together. Moreover, the presence of T. urticae on strawberry leaves was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in plants treated with the silicon nutrient than those without. In addition, initial results suggested that silicon may play a positive role in raising °Brix of strawberry leaf petiole, improving pollen viability, and influencing the length of flower receptacle and stamens. Maltmas Farm has a wide range of semiQnatural habitats that provide food and nesting resources for wild pollinators. Hoverflies, bumblebees and solitary bees were found to be the main wild pollinators that pollinate commercial strawberries at Maltmas Farm (Chapter 5). The number of pollinators in tunnels or open fields significantly correlated with the abundance of strawberry flowers (P < 0.05). Pollinator presence also differed between groups throughout the day and over the seasons. Hoverflies appeared early in the day and were abundant in summer months; bumblebees and solitary bees were present most of the day and throughout the season, whereas honeybees were only active in sunny days. Temperatures, relative humidity and cloud coverage also affected pollinator presence. In addition, pollinator activity was not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the application of the silicon nutrient via the fertigation system. The integrated use of the prediction system (to reduce fungicide applications and subsequent GHG emissions), the silicon nutrient (to reduce crop susceptibility to P. aphanis and T. urticae), and sustainable farmland management (to encourage the presence of wild pollinators) could help strawberry growers to achieve a more sustainable production.

<p>Ba&scaron;tenska jagoda (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), poznata po svom delikatnom mirisu, ukusu i bogastvu u vitaminima i mineralima, gaji se u svim regionima sveta. Jagode, kao voće sa visokom proizvodnom i upotrebnom vredno&scaron;ću, zahtevaju visoka ulaganja rada i metrijala po jedinici povr&scaron;ine. Imajući ovo u vidu, jagoda zahteva posebnu pažnju u svim etapama proizvodnje (gajenja) tj. od zasnivanja jagodnjaka do berbe i prodaje. Cilj ovog istraživanja je, utvrđivanje investicione vrednosti zasnivanja i ostvarenih ekonomskih efekata koji se postižu u proizvodnji jagode karatkog i neutralnog dana u uslovima jugo-zapadnog Ontarija u Kanadi. Najveća proizvodnja u svetu se ostvaruje u severnoj hemisferi (90,5%). Vodeće zemlje po proizvodnji jagode su: SAD, &Scaron;panija, Japan i Republika Koreja. Ove četiri zemlje čine 47,2% od ukupne svetske proizvodnje. Najveće povećanje kapaciteta jagode postignuto je u južnoj hemisferi. Za prikupljanje podataka o tehnologiji gajenja i investicionoj vrednosti ulaganja u proizvodnji jagode, kori&scaron;ćena je metoda anketiranja. U anketi je učestvovalo 19. proizvođača jagoda kratkog i 9. neutralnog dana u toku 2011. i 2012. godine. Upitnikom su prikupljeni podaci o tehnologije gajenja jagode po radnim operacijama, upotrebi materijala, ma&scaron;ina i radne snageTakođe, evidentirane su i strane usluge, ostvareni prosečni prinosi, prodajni kanali i procenat uče&scaron;ća u ukupnoj prodaji i postignuta prosečna cena.</p><p>Na osnovu prikupljenih podataka izračunati su tro&scaron;kovi zasnivanja jagodnjaka, redovne nege i brbe u prvoj i drugoj godini i ostvareni profit za obe grupe jagode. Jagode kratkog dana se isključivo gaje u redovima na otvorenom, a jagode neutralnog dana na bankovima obloženim belom polietilenskom folijom i instaliranim kap-po-kap sistemom za navodnjavanje. Najveći procenat (70%) jagode kratkog dana se prodaje direktno kupcima na gazdinstvu ili lokalnim pijacama, a 55% jagode neutralnog dana se prodaje kanalima veleprodaje. U proseku, proizvođači jagode kratkog dana su postigli profit $CAD 22.300/ha (29,10% od ukupnog prihoda), a proizvođači jagode neutralnog dana $CAD 37.962/ha (29,50% od ukupnog prihoda). Znači, proizvodnja obe grupe jagoda je veoma profitabilna, i postoji realna osnova za dalje povećanje profita.</p> / <p>The cultivated strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), known for its delicate fragrance, flavour, and rich vitamin and mineral content, can be grown in most arable regions of the globe. Strawberry production, like many high-value crops, is resource and labour-intensive. Therefore, attention to detail is required at all stages of strawberry production, from establishment to harvest and marketing. The objective of this study was to determn the cost of strawberry establishment and achived economic effects of short-day and day-neutral strawberry production in south-western Ontario, Canada. The most of the production is located in the northern hemisphere (90.5%). The leading strawberry producing nations are USA, Spain, Japan and Republic of Korea. These four countries counted for 47.2% of all world&rsquo;s strawberry production. The largest increase in strawberry production capacity was recorded in the southern hemisphere. For data collection on procedure for growing a crop of strawberries and investment in strawberry production a survey technique was used. In survey participated 19 short-day and 9 day-neutral strawberry growers and was conducted in 2011 and 2012. The survey recorded strawberry production procedures, materials, equipment and labour use. Also, growers reported external<br />Mr Dragan M. Galić - Doktorska disertacija<br />vii<br />services used, achieved yields, marketing channels of sale, percent of each channel and achieved average sale prices. Based on collected information the cost of establishment, regular care, harvest in first and second year and total income were calculated for both groups of strawberries. Short-day strawberries are grown on matted-rows, while day-neutral on raised beds on white plastic with trickle irrigation installed. Most (70%) of the short-day crop was sold via direct sale (&ldquo;U-pick&rdquo;, ready-picked and farmers&rsquo; market), while 55% of day-neutral strawberries were sold in wholesale. On average, growers of short-day strawberries generated a profit of 22,300 $CAD/ha (29.10% of total income), and growers of day-neutral strawberries 37,962 $CAD/ha (29.50% of total income). Based on this study, both groups of strawberries in Ontario are highly profitable and with great potential for frofit increase.</p>