Influence of Azotobacter and vermicompost on growth, flowering, yield and quality of strawberry cv. Chandler

An experiment was carried out during two subsequent years, i.e., 2009–10 and 2010–11 to study the influence of Azotobacter, vermicompost on growth, flowering, yield and quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. There were nine treatments comprising two levels each of Azotobacter (6 and 7 kg/ha) and vermicompost (20 and 30 t/ha) and their combinations along with one control, replicated thrice in randomized block design. Five kg of FYM was applied as a basal dose in all the treatments including control. All the doses of Azotobacter and vermicompost were applied at the time of planting in the field. The data of both the years of experiment were pooled and analyzed. The combined application of Azotobacter at 7 kg/ha + vermicompost at 30 t/ha significantly increased the height of plant (18.70 cm), number of leaves (61.60), crowns (6.77) and runners (4.83) per plant, whereas, maximum number of flowers (56.69), fruits set (25.87) per plant with increased duration of harvesting (66.80 days) and minimum number of days taken to produce first flower (55.17 days) and fruit set (6.19 days) with significantly more yield (322.38 g/plant) were observed with Azotobacter at 6 kg/ha + vermicompost at 30 t/ha applied plants. Plants fertilized with Azotobacter at 6 kg/ha + vermicompost at 30 t/ha also produced the berries with maximum length (4.76 cm), width (2.49 cm), weight (8.75 g), volume (5.97 cc), TSS (9.80°Brix), total sugars (9.23%), ascorbic acid (54.72 mg/100 g edible portion) with minimum titratable acidity (0.50%) in comparison to other treatments under plains of central Uttar Pradesh.