Fertilization recommendations for growing strawberries, depending on various factors and fertilization method

Soilless

Growing medium: Rockwool.
Plant population: 35,000 plants/ha.
Expected yield: 40-50 T/Ha.

A. Recommended mean rates of nutrients

Growth period	Weeks	N	P	K	Ca	Mg
		--------------------- mg/l --------------------
Planting - Veg	1-6	110	33	140	106	50
Early prod.	7-14	200	90	170	106	50
Flowering- Fruit	15-21	150	45	100	85-110	50
Fruit - Set-rip	22-25	120	20	100	85-110	30
Harvesting	26-33	100	20	100	85-110	30
Harvesting	34-35	100	20	100	85-110	30
Harvesting	36-39	70	17	80	65-110	30

 

B. Nutrient solution parameters

pH	EC ms/cm	NH4/(NO3+NH4)
5.5-6.5	1.5-2.0	1/10

 

C. Nutrient solution for strawberries

The calculation of nutrient solution composition is based on the following water parameters:

 Ca - 80 mg/l
 Mg - 12 mg/l
 HCO₃ - 80 mg/l
 EC - 0.5 ms/cm

Growth period	Weeks	Tank A				Tank B
		AN	Multi-K	MKP	MAP	Mg(NO3)2	Ca(NO3)2
		------------------ Kg ------------------				------ Kg ------
Planting - Veg	1-6	-	50	30	30	40	30
Early prod.	7-14	55	60	40	30	40	30
Flowering - Fruit	15-21	60	30	30	10	40	0*
Fruit - Set-rip	22-25	45	45	10	10	15	0
Harvesting	26-33	30	45	10	10	15	0
Harvesting	34-35	30	45	10	10	15	0
Harvesting	36-39	15	45	10	10	15	0

 

Notes: 

1. The tank volumes are 1000 liter.
2. The stock solutions are injected to the pipeline at a rate of 5 l/m3.
3. 20 ml/m3 of nitric acid are applied to the irrigation solution in each of the growth periods as an additional nitrate-nitrogen source.
4. If the pH of the nutrient solution is higher than recommended (Table B- above) the pH can be corrected by phosphoric acid. In this case the amount of the phosphatic fertilizers should be reduced accordingly.
* The supply of calcium is stopped at this stage assuming sufficiently high level of 
calcium in the water (see above).

 

Nutrition database for strawberry

Parameter	Concentration
	Peat substrate		Recirculating water
	Nutrient Solution	Root Environ.	Nutrient Solution	Root Environ.
EC (mS/cm)	1.7	0.8	1.5	2.0
	(mg/l)		(mg/l)
NH4	18.0	< 9.0	9.0	< 9.0
N- NH4	13.8	< 6.9	6.9	< 6.9
K in sap
K	215.1	74.3	205.3	176.0
Ca	130.3	68.2	110.3	180.5
Mg	30.4	17.0	27.3	48.6
N, total
NO3	713.0	248.0	620.0	744.0
N-NO3	160.9	56.0	140.0	167.9
S, total
SO4	144.2	105.7	108.1	240.3
P
H2PO4	97.0	29.1	121.3	67.9
Cl
Na
Fe	1.117	0.447	1.117	1.955
Mn	0.549	0.110	0.549	0.385
Zn	0.458	0.196	0.262	0.458
B	0.270	0.108	0.216	0.216
Cu	0.048	0.044	0.048	0.044
Mo	0.048	-	0.048	-

 

Important note: The a/m database was prepared to fit Dutch conditions (low transpiration and low EC of the water). Considerable and proportional reduction in the concentration of the macronutrients should be required to offset for lower quality water prevailing in other conditions.

sources:

• N. Straver. Nutrient solutions for vegetables and flowers grown in water or substrates. 10th Ed. 1994.
• C. de Kreij, Sonneveld C., Warmenhoven M.G. and Straver N.A. Guide values for nutrient element contents of vegetables and flowers under glass. 3rd Ed. 1992.

 

Fertilization of strawberry in the UK

Open Ground Pre Plant fertilisers

The texture and nutritional status of the soil influence strawberry nutritional requirements. Lighter soils tend to leach Nitrogen and Potassium more easily than medium and heavier soils, likewise for tabletop and gutter production, substrates can be either Vapoboards, Grodan and Growbags (Peat, Peat/ Polymer and Peat /Clay). The nutritional application programme must be tailored accordingly to the type of substrate.

All figures in kg/ha of P₂O₅, K₂O and MgO.

Notes:

1. Pre plant fertilisers may be applied either as inorganic straights or as an organic based/inorganic compound.
2. If more than 50Kg of Potash is required on plants grown through polythene covered raised beds, apply a fertilizer based on Sulphate of Potash.

 

 

Suggested Pre-Plant fertilizer rates for soil grown fertilizers *

Source: Dennis Wilson - Strawberry Handbook 1997.

 

Index	0	1	2	3	4
P2O5	200	100	75	50	-
K2O	200	100	50	-	-
MgO	100	75	50	25	-

 

Fertigation

Many different liquid and water soluble fertilizers are marketed for soft fruit production, the major products are listed below. Products range from cheaper formulations with poor quality agricultural grade materials. Whilst cheaper, these products contain high levels of insoluble which can cause blockages to irrigation lines and T-Tape. Cheaper products with a high Chloride content may also cause root scorch and cause increased problems with soft watery fruits.
 
At the top end of the market a higher quality raw material is used, this results in higher purchase prices but guarantees improved solubility, reduced Chlorine contents and better water quality.

 

Suggested fertigation rates for soil grown strawberries

Source: Dennis Wilson - Strawberry Handbook 1997.

	N	P2O5	K2O	MgO	No Weeks
Junebearers
- Tunnels	60	30	120	15	20-24
- Maincrop Yr. 1	50	25	100	10	16-20
Final Yr	40	20	80	8	10-12
- 60 days	40	20	80	8	12-15
Everbearers	60-75	30	120	15	20-24

 Notes:

1. These rates are for medium /light soils with appropriate pre fertilizer applied following a soil analysis.
2. Everberares – Use a low N rate for Tango/Bolero and other varieties where tissue N levels are adequate. Use higher rates on Evita/Selva where N tissue levels are low.
3. In Scotland were the growing season is shorter and soil fertility is higher N application rates can be reduced by 20-25%.

 

Fertigation recommendations for soil grown strawberries (kg/ha)

 

a) Elsanta.
	Timing	No. of weeks	N	P2O5	K2O	MgO
Tunnels	Apr-Sept	24	60	301	50	18
Fleece	May / Sept	22	60	30	150	15
Maincrop
* Year 1	May / Sept	20	60	30	120	12
* Final year	May / June	10	40	20	80	10
Deep straw	May / July	10	50	25	100	10
60 day crops	June-Sept	15	50	25	100	10
b) Everbearers.
Year 1
* Bolero	June-Sept	16	60	30	120	12
* Everest/Selva	May-Sept	20	75*	30	120	12
* Everglade	May-Sept	20	80	40	160	16
Year 2
* Everest	May-Sept	20	75	38	150	15

 Notes:

1. These application rates and timings are for crops grown at standard densities on medium textured soils. Rates may need to be adjusted for very light or fertile soils, or where a very high cropping density is employed.
2. For Everest and Selva, extra Nitrogen is added to the feed during Fruiting-  but it is important not to overfeed during early crop growth in May.

 

Recommendation for field-grown strawberries in Israel, when demand is maximal

Nitrogen
N should be supplied at 1.5 – 2.5 kg N / ha /day.
Soil solution should contain 20-30 ppm of nitrate-N at all times.
 
Phosphorus
P should be kept at 20-30 ppm (Olsen)
 
Potassium
K should be kept at 1-2 mEq/liter.

 

 

Fertilization of field-grown strawberries in Thailand

Soil: medium - heavy.
Plant density: 35,000 plants/ha.
Expected yield: 37-50 T/Ha.

 

A. Total nutrients requirements

N	P2O5	K2O
----------- kg/ha -----------
150-218	112-130	218-250

 

 

B. Fertigation recommendations

Growth stage	Suggested fertilizers	Rate (kg/ha)	N	P2O5	K2O
			----------(kg/ha)----------
Planting – 2 months	Urea	63	29	0	0
	MAP	63	7	37	0
	Multi-K	82	10	0	37
Flowering – fruit-set	Urea	81	37	0	0
	MAP	31	4	19	0
	Multi-K	113	15	0	52
Fruit-set - harvest	Urea	125	58	0	0
	MAP	50	6	30	0
	Multi-K	218	28	0	100
Late harvest	Multi-K	125	16	0	58
Total		1,076	210	86	247

 

C. Foliar feeding recommendations

Growth stage	Fertilizer	Rate (%)	Number of applications and frequency
Vegatative	Poly-Feed 19-19-19	0.4	4, at weekly intervals
Start of flowering	MKP	0.3-0.4	4, at weekly intervals

Base dressing recommendations (kg/hectare)

For extensive growth conditions

 

N	P2O5	K2O	CaO	MgO
150	150	240	120	60

 

Need more information about growing strawberries? You can always return to the strawberry fertilizer & strawberry crop guide table of contents