USE OF CONTAINERIZED STRAWBERRY TRANSPLANTS FOR WATER
CONSERVATION AND INCREASED EARLY SEASON PRODUCTION UNDER
A WINTER ANNUAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN FLORIDA
1997-2000
PROJECT FINAL REPORT to
Southwest Florida Water Management District
Project Agreement No. 97CON000190
Project Manager: Ron Cohen
*
Investigators:
George Hochmuth, lead
Dan Cantliffe
Craig Chandler
Dan Legard
John Duval
Craig Stanley
Eric Waldo
Tim Cracker
I
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic
Page number
Introduction
3
Crop Production Information
4
Climatic Information
5
Water Use Information
6
Crop Production and Yield
6
Economic Estimates
10
Overall Summary of Project
Recommendations Pertaining to Strawberry
Plug Production
11
Identify Problems Associated with Project
11
4
3
INTRODUCTION
Water is required for successful establishment, growth, and sometimes frost protection, of
strawberries in Florida. Strawberry crops are started from bare-root transplants in early
fall under high temperatures, and these plants need water for establishment in the fruiting
field. Currently, overhead sprinkler irrigation systems are used for up to 2 weeks to
apply water to the newly transplanted crops. The establishment phase can account for up
to one-third of the total-season use of water in the strawberry field.
New planting technologies are becoming refined for strawberry plant establishment.
Containerized strawberry plants are now commercially available for strawberry producers
in Florida. Containerized plants are in widespread use in the vegetable industry for
tomato, pepper, melons, eggplant, and other vegetables. Containerized transplants are
placed in the field with the root system intact with the growing medium still attached to
the root. These plants typically provide for quicker establishment with less stress to the
plant and with less water needed for establishment.
This research and demonstration project was undertaken to evaluate containerized
strawberry plants for establishing strawberry fruiting crops. The research involved a
comparison of bare-root and containerized transplant propagation systems under three
establishment irrigation systems (none, microirrigation, or sprinkler). A third factor in
the research was the size of the transplant, based on the diameter of the crown of the
transplant. The research was conducted in two consecutive seasons at the Gulf Coast
Research and Education Center in Dover, Florida in 1997-1999. The third season was
used for on-farm demonstrations of the containerized plant technology. Details on the
materials and methods are presented in the individual yearly reports.
Treatments used each season were similar, except for the transplant size factor. In the
1997-98 season, three sizes of plants were used, small, medium, and large. In the field,
there were 4 plots available for the plant size factor. Therefore, two plots contained
medium-sized plants, and were referred to as medium-l and medium-2. In the 1998-99
season, there were three sizes, small, medium, and large, and a mixed treatment. The
mixed treatment consisted of ungraded plants as to size of the crown.
Data collected in each season included the amounts of water used in the plant
establishment period, and measurements of plant development in the first three weeks of
plant growth. Strawberry fruit yield was recorded for the season and reported as early
(November and December) and total season (November through April) production.
Data for each season were analyzed individually by season and the results are presented
in each season’s report. For this final report, a combined analysis of the data was
undertaken. For that analysis, the factors were two seasons (97-98 and 98-99), two levels
of plant type (bare-root and plug), three levels of establishment irrigation system
(microirrigation, sprinkler, and none), and three levels of transplant size (small, medium,
4
and large). The results on the mixed transplant treatment are presented in the report for
the 1998-99 season.
The third season, 1999-2000 was used for on-farm demonstrations and educational
presentations of results from the research. Fives farms were chosen for demonstration of
the containerized plug transplant technology. A field day was held in the spring of 2000
to present the results and observe the performance of the strawberry plugs in commercial
settings.
CROP PRODUCTION INFORMATION
General. Strawberry crops for the research and demonstration parts of this project were
grown with standard strawberry production practices used in the Central Florida
production area. The following is a summary of the production practices used for this
project. More details on specific practices are available t?om each year’s midyear report.
Soil preparation. Cover crops were incorporated into the soil by disking and plowing to
prepare the soil for bed-making and fertilization. A portion of the fertilizer needs of the
crop was broadcast and incorporated inthe soil to provide the phosphorus (P) and
micronutrient needs of the crop and a portion of the nitrogen (N) and potassium (K).
Details on amounts of fertilizer are presented in the yearly reports for the research.
Raised beds were prepared at all sites using beds about 28 inches wide and 7 inches in
height, and placed on 4-foot centers. Beds were covered with black polyethylene mulch
and drip irrigation tubing was placed on the surface in the center of the beds.
Irrigation systems. On the commercial farms, overhead sprinklers were used for
establishing the bare-root strawberry plants and drip irrigation was used for routine
irrigation practices. At the Dover research plots, three irrigation systems were evaluated,
including overhead sprinkler, microjet, and drip. The microjet system consisted of 28
blue jets (280 degrees) spaced every 2.5 feet and the output was 0.3 gal. per minute or 18
gal. per hour. Sprinkler nozzle output was 1.5 gal. per minute or 90 gal. per hour. The
drip irrigation system consisted of tubes with emitters on 18-inch spacing delivering 0.37
gal. per hour at 10 psi.
Planting. At all sites, strawberry plug and bare-root plants were placed in the ground by
hand with 2 rows of plants per bed and 12 inches between rows and between plants in the
rows. Bare-root plants received sprinkler irrigation for establishment and plug plants
received only water applied to the plant hole immediately after planting and no further
irrigation for establishment.
Fertilization. All strawberry crops received the remaining N and K fertilizers through the
drip irrigation system during the season. For example, at the Dover research center site,
liquid fertilizer (4N-2P205-6&0) at 1.5 gal. per day, was applied for the remainder of the
season.
5
CLIMATIC INFORMATION
The weather data, including temperature, rainfall, and ET were collected during the
course of the research and were summarized in the yearly reports. For this final report, a
short summary of the monthly averages is presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Climatic information for the strawberry plant establishment research at
Dover, Florida.
Month
1997-1998
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
Average/sum
1998-1999
October
November
December
Ja.lWUy
February
March
Average/sum
High
temperature
Low
temperature
Average
temperature
Rainfall
(inches)
Potential ET
(inches)
82
75
70
72
71
74
81
75
63
56
53
54
52
53
60
56
73
66
62
63
62
63
71
66
4.54
3.2
14.85
3.54
8.41
7.92
0.03
42.49
1.8
1.07
0.75
1.32
2.64
3.59
3.67
14.84
85
81
77
75
75
78
79
67
61
56
51
50
49
56
76
71
67
63
63
63
67
0.70
1.76
0.68
1.63
0.47
0.69
5.93
3.49
2.93
2.10
2.77
4 2.79
3.91
17.99
82
77
71
71
75
80
76
66
53
51
49
49
57
55
73
64
60
59
61
69
64
4.08
3.33
1.74
2.20
0.35
0.30
12.00
2.72
0.49
1.90
2.07
2.80
3.82
13.80
1 YYY-2ouo
October
November
December
January
February
March
Average/sum
6
WATER USE INFORMATION
The water use for strawberry establishment in this research is discussed in each year’s
midyear report. A summary of the results on water use for the IO-day establishment
period is presented here (Table 2). Water use was least with the plug plants which only
received water applied to the planting hole at transplanting. Water use was intermediate
with the microjet system and most with the overhead sprinkler system. In the on-farm
demonstrations, the plug system resulted in the application of about 0.5 inches of water
while the water use was approximately 12 inches with the sprinkler system. Results
showed that the use of plug plants with only watering the plants at transplanting could
save significant amounts of water for the 6000-acre strawberry crop in central Florida if
water application rates were similar to those used in this research. The use of plug plants
would of course need to also be justified on the basis of economics and profitability to the
farmer. The other benefit noticed in this research was the survivability of plug plants
with no sprinkler irrigation. This means that plug plants could be used for replanting
missing stands of bare-root-planted fields without the need for further sprinkler irrigation.
Table 2. Water use for strawberry transplant establishment in research at Dover,
Florida.
Year
Hand-watering
at planting (gal./A)
Micro-jet (gal./A)
Sprinkler (gal./A)
1997-1998
1,088
277,338
1,094,528
1998-1999
815
395,000
1,267,000
CROP PRODUCTION AND YIELD
Yield and plant growth response data were collected in detail fi-om the 2 years of research
at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Dover, Florida.
The results of the analysis of each individual year’s data are presented in each year’s final
report. For the overall project final report, a combined analysis over the 2 years was
conducted to determine if responses were different in the 2 years of crop production. The
results of the combined analysis are presented below.
7
RESULTS OF THE COMBINED ANALYSIS ACROSS YEARS
Plant growth at 3 weeks. Results of the combined analysis of variance are presented in
Table 1 for the plant growth variables measured. For most variables, there were
significant treatment interactions detected in the data.
Leaf number. The main reason for irrigation of bare-root transplants is that these plants
have been disturbed from the plant bed soil and their root systems have been damaged.
Without overhead sprinkler water, these plants would lose their leaves and die. We
measured leaf numbers for all plants to determine the degree of leaf loss for the transplant
types with the several irrigation treatments. Leaf number was affected by the interaction
of propagation system, plant size, and irrigation system, and by the interaction of year,
propagation system, and irrigation system (Table 3). With plug plants there were 4 to 5
leaves present on the plants in the field at three weeks, irrespective of plant size or
irrigation system (Table 4). With bare-root plants, there was leaf loss, even with
sprinkler irrigation, and severe leaf loss when no irrigation was used in the establishment
period. With no irrigation, there was less than one leaf on average per plant at three
weeks after planting. Leaf number responses across irrigation systems was similar with
large and medium plants, but, with small plants, leaf loss was greater. This difference in
response was not detected for plug plants. This treatment interaction response was
consistent across seasons. One important result was that leaf loss was negligible with
plug plants, even when those plants received no irrigation during the establishment phase.
The only water these plug plants received was a small amount applied to each plant at
transplanting.
Leaf number also was affected by the interaction of year, propagation system, and
irrigation system (Table 3). In 1997, bare-root plants receiving no irrigation died, but in
1998, the bare-root plants receiving no irrigation averaged 1.6 leaves at three weeks after
planting (Table 5). With plugs, leaf number was equal irrespective of irrigation system.
Leaf area. Strawberry leaf area was affected by the interaction of propagation mkthod,
plant size, and irrigation method (Table 3). The greatest leaf area was with large plug
plants receiving no irrigation (Table 5). Lowest leaf area was with bare-root plants of
any size receiving no irrigation and small bare-root plants irrespective of irrigation
treatment. These results showed that leaf area is conserved best with plug plants or with
large bare-root plants receiving sprinkler irrigation. The difference in water use with
these treatments is presented in the yearly reports.
Leaf area also was affected by the main effects of year (Table 3). Leaf area averaged 116
cm* in 1997 and 169 cm* in 1998. These differences are expected with differences in
factors such as weather in the plant production area possibly accounting for much of the
differences.
Leaf dry weight. Plant leaf dry weight was affected, like leaf number and leaf area, by
the interaction of propagation method, plant size, and irrigation method (Table3). The
8
responses of leaf dry weight were similar to those of leaf area, with greatest dry weight
with plug plants receiving no irrigation and least with small bare-root plants or large or
medium bare-root plants receiving no irrigation (Table 5).
Leaf dry weight also was affected by the two-way interaction between year and
propagation system (Table 3). Leaf dry weight was greater with plug plants compared to
bare-root plants in both seasons, although the degree of the difference was greater in
1997 (Table 6).
Results with leaf measurements across years showed that leaf loss was least and leaf
growth was best with large and medium plug plants irrespective of irrigation system.
Large plugs receiving no irrigation performed the best. Bare-root plants required
sprinkler irrigation to establish in equal fashion to plug plants.
Crown diameter. Crown diameter was affected by the four-way interaction of year,
propagation system, plant size, and irrigation system (Table 3). The greatest crown
diameter at three weeks was found with large and medium plug plants irrespective of
inigation system and year (Table 7). The bare-root plants in 1997 receiving no irrigation
had died by three weeks in the season.
Crown dry weight. The dry weight of the plant crowns was affected by the three-way
interaction of propagation system, plant size, and irrigation system (Table3). The
greatest crown dry weight at three weeks was found with large and medium bare-root
plants receiving sprinkler irrigation (Table 5). The least crown dry weight was found
with medium and small bare-root plants receiving no irrigation and with small plug plant.
The crown dry weight also was affected by the three-way interaction of year, propagation
method, and irrigation (Table 3). Crown dry weight was least with nonirrigated bare-root
plants in 1997, since these plants died by week three of the season (Table 5). Several
treatments resulted in largest crown dry weights by week three, including bare-root plants
with sprinkler irrigation in 1997 and bare-root plants receiving microirrigation in,1998.
Crown dry weight also was affected by the three-way interaction of year, propagation
system, and plant size (Table3). Typically, crown dry weight was greatest with large
plants, but especially in 1998 (Table 8). Crowns of plugs were slightly larger than bareroot plants in 1997, but bare-root. crowns were greater in 1998.
Root dry weight. The main effects if irrigation affected root dry weight of strawbeny
plants at three weeks (Table3). Root dry weight was greatest with either microirrigation
(723 g) or sprinkler irrigation (756 g), and lowest with plants with no irrigation (492 g).
Root dry weight also was affected by the two-way interaction of propagation system and
plant size (Table3). Greatest root dry weight at three weeks into the season was found
with large plug plants (Table 9). The smallest roots were found for small bare-root
plants.
9
Root dry weight was affected by the interaction of year and propagation method (Table
3). Root dry weight was greater in both years with plugs, but the magnitude of the
difference was more in 1997 (Table 6).
Root dry weight also was affected by the two-way interaction of year and plant size
(Table 3). Overall root growth was greater in 1998, but the difference in dry weight
between that with small plants and large plants was greater in 1997 than in 1998 (Table
10). Large plant led to larger root growth, but the importance of using large transplants
was greater in 1997.
Number offlowers. Number of flowers was affected by the interaction of year,
propagation system, and plant size (Table 3). Large plug plants were the only plants in
1997 to have flowers by week three of the season (Table 8). In 1998, plug plants of any
size had flowers by week three, but no bare-root plants had flowered by then.
Ear& fruit yield. Fruit yield from November and December was affected by the
interaction of year and propagation method (Table 11). Early yield was greater from plug
plants compared to bare-root plants in both years, but the difference was greater in 1998
(Table 12).
Early fruit yield also was affected by the interaction of year and plant size (Table 11). In
1997, yields with large and medium plants were similar and both were greater than with
small plants (Table 13). In 1998, early fruit yield was greatest with large plants and least
with small plants.
Early yield also was affected by the three-way interaction of propagation method, plant
size, and irrigation method (Table 11). Greatest yields were with large plugs, irrespective
of irrigation system (Table 14). The lowest yields were with bare-root plants receiving
no irrigation in the plant establishment phase.
Totalfiuit yield. Total season t?uit yield was affected by the two-way interactio? of year
and plant size (Table 11). In 1997, yield was greatest with medium plants (Table 15). In
1998, yield was similar with large and medium plants.
Yield for the total season was also affected by the three-way interaction of year,
propagation method, and irrigation system (Table 11). In 1997, yield with nonirrigated
bare-root plants was less than with all other treatments which were equal (Table 16). In
1998, yields with nonirrigated bare-root plants was least, but greater than with the same
treatment combination in 1997. Yields were intermediate in 1998 with sprinkler irrigated
bare-root plants, and greatest with all other treatments.
demonstrations. In the 1999-2000 season, plug plants were compared with bareroot plants on five commercial farms. A field day was carried out to discuss the
observations of the demonstrations. Early yield was slightly enhanced by the use of plug
plants, but in this year, the difference in early yield was not enough to offset the extra
cost of the plugs. Results showed overall similar total-season yields with plug and bare-
Field
.
10
root plants. Experiences with plug yields in research plots regarding reduction in water
use were confirmed on commercial farms. However, early production from plug plants
needs to be more consistent from year to year for more consistent profitability. Growers
will need to evaluate the profitability on their farms.
ECONOMIC ESTIMATES
The University of Florida publishes a summary of estimates of costs of production for
strawberries (using bare-root plants), and this information is adapted for this project in
Table 17. The use of plug plants adds to the total amount of input costs for the
strawberry producer because plug plants are about twice the cost of bare-root plants to the
grower who purchases plants from a transplant producer. The factors in the list of cost
inputs that are mainly affected by the use of a different plant type (plug plants) are the
transplant cost and irrigation application cost (pumping). The costs of the transplants
nearly doubles from $1560/ acre to $3 120/ acre, but the costs of pumping is reduced.
Since about one-third of the water used in a strawbeny production season is used during
plant establishment, it follows that the pumping costs would be reduced by one-third.
This cost however, only reduces the overall machinery by a slight amount since pumping
costs represent only about 17% of the total machinery costs for strawberry production (S.
A. Smith and T. G. Taylor, ‘Production Costs for Selected Florida Vegetables, 19971998”, Economic Information Report EI 99-3).
For plug plants to be economical for strawberry producers there has to be a profit
advantage in addition to the water savings. Profit usually means earlier strawberries.
There were some encouraging results from our research, namely that we observed earlier
strawberry production in the 2 years of research at Dover. Early fruit production
(November/December) was increased by an average of 185 flats (Table 12). This
increase in early production would, in most seasons, pay for the increased cost in plug
plants compared to bare-root plants.
We observed the increase in yield with plug plant crops at the Research Center ii the first
2 years of the project. In the third year with on-farm demonstrations, increases in early
yield with plug plants were more modest than in the first two years of research. This
observation points out that there still is work to be accomplished in producing plug plants
that consistently provide increased early yields in the amount that makes their use
profitable for the grower.
11
OVERALL SUMMAR Y OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
PROBLEMS
The main findings of this research were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Containerized (plug) transplants can be established with only small amounts of
water applied to the root zone at planting. No further irrigation is required in the
establishment period.
Early yields were greater with plug plants compared to those with bare-root plants
in two out of three seasons. Plug plants need to consistently produce earlier
yields than bare-root plants in order to be economical for the grower.
Plug plants experienced little leafloss and root growth is greater than with bareroot plants. Plug plants begin growing rapidly immediately afk planting whereas
bare-root plants experienced leaf loss and needed more time to establish a rapid
growth rate.
Total fruit yield was similar with plug or bare-root plants.
Plant size is important for early and total yields. With plugs, the plants should
have at least an 8-mm diameter crown (medium size)
Recommendations:
Based on this research and demonstration project, we can recommend that Florida
strawberry producers evaluate the usefulness and profitability of plug transplants on their
farms. Trials should be small in size the first season with careful attention paid to the
early yields, water use, and cost inputs so an economic comparison of the planting
systems made.
Problems with the research encountered:
We encountered no significant problems in conducting this research, either at the
research center or on the commercial farms.
4
12
.Table 3. Results of analysis of variance for combined plant data (measurements at 3 weeks).
Source
Leaf no.
Leaf
area
Leaf
dry wt.
Crown
Crown
Root
d i a m e t e r drywt. d r y w t .
Yea 07
**
**
**
**
Propagation (P)
Y*P
Plant size (S)
y*s
p*s
Y*P*s
Irrigation (I)
Y*I
P*I
Y*P*I
S*I
y*s*1
p*s*1
Y*P*S*I
**
**
**
**
**
**
NS
**
*
**
NS
NS
**
**
**
NS
*.
NS
NS
NS
**
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
**
**
**
NS
**
**
**
**
**
NS
NS
NS
**
**
NS
NS
*
NS
NS
NS
**
*
**
NS
NS
**
*
**
NS
NS
NS
*
NS
**
NS’
NS
NS
**
**
**
*
**
’ Significant at 5 % (*), 1 % (**), or not significant (NS).
*
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
NS
**
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
Number
flowers
**
**
**
**
*
**
*
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
13
Table 4. Means for interaction of propagation method, irrigation method, and plant
size for some plant growth variables at 3 weeks.
h
Propagation Plant
method
size
Irrigation Leaf
method
number
Leaf area
(cm*)
Leaf
drywt.
Crown
drywt.
Bare
Bare
Bare
Bare
Bare
Bare
Bare
Bare
Bare
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
176
196
542
299
78
309
193
106
168
415
420
421
372
257
301
166
179
177
136
root
root
root
root
root
root
root
root
root
LSD .05
large
large
large
medium
medium
medium
small
small
small
large
large
large
medium
medium
medium
small
small
small
(mg)
3.0
0.9
3.3
2.9
0.7
3.0
2.0
0.8
2.1
5.0
5.7
5.2
4.9
4.9
4.5
4.1
4.1
4.4
179
118
27
133
73
15
70
220
324
227
184
222
155
116
162
119
1349
263
1343
844
161
1101
502
90
487
1962
2665
2095
1663
1586
1333
768
1059
892
0.9
58
520
39
14
Table 5. Means for interaction of year, propagation method,
and irrigation method for leaf number and crown dry weight.
Year
Propagation +-rigation
method
method
1997
Bare
1997
Bare
1997
Bare
Plug
1997
1997
Plug
1997
Plug
Bare
1998
1998
Bare
Bare
1998
1998
Plug
1 9 9 8 Plug
Plug
1998
root
root
root
root
root
root
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
splink1er
LSD .05
Leaf
number per
plant
2.5
0.0
2.4
4.9
5.0
4.7
2.7
1.6
3.2
4.5
4.8
4.7
Crown
dry wt.
(w)
305
0
343
268
256
265
437
254
336
368
314
334
0.7
110
Table 6. Means for interaction of year and propagation
method for effects on root dry weight.
Year
Propagation
method
1997
1997
1998
1998
Bare root
Plug
Bare root
Plug
LSD .05
Leaf dry wt.
(w)
394
1402
970
1715
Root dry wt.
(w)
243
635
511
1239
244
170
4
15
Table 7. Means for interaction of year, propagation method, irrigation method, and
plant size effects on crown diameter.
Year
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
LSD .05
Propagation
method
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plant
size
Large
Large
Large
Medium
Medium
Medium
Small
Small
Small
Large
Large
Large
Medium
Medium
Medium
Small
Small
Small
Large
Large
Large
Medium
Medium
Medium
Small
Small
Small
Large
Large
Large
Medium
Medium
Medium
Small
Small
Small
Irrigation
method
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Micrc
None
Sprinkler
Micro
None
Sprinkler
Crown
diameter (mm)
10.9
0
11.4
9.5
0
9.8
8.0
0
7.4
9.6
10.4
9.6
9.2
8.9
8.5
7.3
7.7
7.5
10.4
9.2
9.6
7.8
6.3
8.7
6.4
6.9
7.3
a
9.9
9.7
10.3
9.5
8.9
8.6
7.4
7.4
7.4
1.8
1
16
Table 8. Means for interaction of year, propagation method, and plant size effects on
number of flowers.
Year
Propagation
method
Plant size
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
Bare
Bare
Bare
Plug
Plug
Plug
Bare
Bare
Bare
Plug
Plug
Plug
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
root
root
root
root
root
root
LSD .05
Number of
flowers per
plant
0
0
0
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
1.5
0.4
0.1
Crown
Dry wt. (mg)
0.5
110
Table 9. Means for interaction of propagation method
and plant size for effects on root dry weight.
b
Propagation
method
Plant size
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Plug
Plug
Plug
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
LSD .05
Root dry wt.
bg)
627
322
182
1437
949
424
210
337
207
104
392
248
150
569
251
207
447
372
198
17
Table 10. Means for interaction of year and plant size
for effects on root dry weight.
Year
Plant size
1997
1997
1997
1998
1998
1998
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
Root dry wt.
(w)
731
399
187
1333
872
420
209
LSD .05
Table 11. Results of analysis of variance for combined data for early and season total yield.
Source
Early (Nov. + Dec.)
Average
Market
Yield
fiuit wt.
fruit (%)
Average
hit wt.
Yea 03
**
Propagation (P)
Y*P
Plant size (S)
y*s
p*s
Y*P*s
Irrigation (I)
Y*I
P*I
Y*P*I
s*1
Y*s*I
p*s*1
Y*P*s*I *
**
*
**
NS
NS
NS
**
**
**
**
NS
NS
NS
*
Total season
Market
Yield
fruit (%)
**
**
**
**
**
**
NS
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
*
NS
NS
NS
NS
**
**
**
*
NS
**
**
NS
NS
**
NS
NS
NS
*
**
**
**
NS
**
NS
**
**
NS
**
**
NS
NS
NS
NS
*
NS
NS
NS
**
**
**
NS
**
**
**
**
*
NS
**
**
NS
NS
**
**
NS
’ Significant at 5 % (*), 1 % (**), or not significant (NS).
**
**
NS
NS
NS
NS
6
18
Table 12. Means for interaction of year and propagation
method for effects on early fruit yield.
Year
Propagation
method
Early yield
(flats per acre)”
1997
1997
1998
1998
Bare root
Plug
Bare root
Plug
143
217
187
400
LSD .05
L Flat is 10.25 lbs.
24
Table 13. Means for interaction of year and plant size
for effects on early fruit yield.
I
Year
Plant size
1997
1997
1997
1998
1998
1998
LSD .05
G Flat is 10.25 lbs.
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
Early yield
(flats per acre)’
208
198
132
392
294
193
30
19
Table 14. Means for interaction of propagation method,
irrigation method, and plant size for effects on early yield.
Propagation
method
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Bare root
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plug
Plant size
large
large
large
medium
medium
medium
small
small
small
large
large
large
medium
medium
medium
small
small
small
LSD .05
’ Flat is 10.25 lbs.
Irrigation
method
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
micro
none
sprinkle
Early yield
(flats per acre)’
317
45
315
232
35
247
161
7
122
354
400
370
335
323
306
239
229
220
51
20
Table 15. Means for interaction of year and plant size
for effects on total-season fruit yield.
L
Plant size
Year
1997
1997
1997
1998
1998
1998
LSD .05
’ Flat is 10.25 lbs.
Large
Medium
Small
Large
Medium
Small
Total yield
(flats per acre)’
1359
1577
1404
1465
1383
1134
123
4
Table 16. Means for interaction of year, propagation method, and irrigation method,
for effects on total-season yield.
- ,- ,.
Propagation
Irrigation
Total yield
Year
method
method
(flats per acre)
Bare root
Micro
1783
1997
1997
Bare root
None
136
1997
Bare root
Sprinkler
1784
1997
Plug
MiCKl
1647
1997
Plug
None
1683
1997
Plug
Sprinkler
1646
1998
Bare root
Micro
1449
1998
Bare root
None
438
Bare root
Sprinkler
1375
1998
1998
Plug
Micro
1584
Plug
None
1554
1998
1998
Plug
Sprinkler
1564
LSD .05
’ Flat is 10.25 lbs.
174
21
Table 17. Estimated production costs strawberries using bare-root plants for Plant
City area. Adapted from “Production Costs for Selected Florida Vegetables”, Economic
Information Report EI 99-3, by S. A. Smith and T. G. Taylor, 1999.
Acrea
2200
Category
Yield (12-lb. flats per acre)
OPERATING COSTS
Transplants
Fertilizer
Fumigant
Fungicide
Herbicide
Insecticide
Labor
Machinery
Interest
Miscellaneous
Plastic Mulch
Remove/dispose plastic mulch
Cut runners, hoe, weed
Predatory mites
Scouting
Set transplants
Cover-crop seed
Irrigation tube
Farm vehicles
Total operating
FIXED COSTS
Land rent
Machinery
Overhead
Total fuced
TOTAL PREHARVEST COSTS
HARVEST AND MARKETING COSTS
Harvest
Pack, load, haul
Supervision
Boxes and cups
Sell
Total harvesting and marketing
TOTAL COSTS
a Acre is 10,000 linear bed feet.
1560.00
165.50
580.00
528.06
73.07
355.26
255.13
279.89
310.19
265.50
55.78
120.00
93.75
52.25
220.00
35.00
180.00
82.27
5211.65
875.00
166.40
1634.29
2675.69
7887.33
.
3344.00
968.00
330.00
3718.00
1650.00
10010.00
17897.33