Author(s): T. SAHA, B. GHOSH, S. DEBNATH AND A. BHATTACHARJEE

Abstract: The present investigation was carried out during 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia to study the effect of micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn grown under shade net in the Gangetic alluvial region of West Bengal. The experiment was laid out in RBD, replicated 3 times with nine treatments, viz., Boric acid @ 0.2 and 0.4%, Zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄) @ 0.2 and 0.4%; Copper sulphate (CuSO₄) @ 0.2 and 0.4%, Iron sulphate (FeSO₄) @ 0.2 and 0.4% and control (water spray), applied as foliar spray at 15 and 30 DAP. Application of both ZnSO₄ and FeSO₄ @ 0.4% significantly improved vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting and fruit quality parameters over control and almost same value of estimated B:C ratio (2.69 and 2.68, respectively). However, ZnSO₄ @ 0.4 % resulted in significantly highest fruit weight (21.50 g) and also improved productivity (2.58 t ha^-1) and fruit quality in terms of TSS (6.29 ⁰ Brix), ascorbic acid (57.22 mg 100^-1 g pulp) and anthocyanin content (62.86 mg/100 g pulp). From this study, foliar spray of ZnSO₄ @ 0.4 % at 15 and 30 days after planting was suggested for improvement of plant growth, productivity and fruit quality of strawberry grown in the Gangetic alluvial region of West Bengal.

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