STRAWBERRY YIELD AND QUALITY RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT FERTILIZER FORMULATIONS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2024 on a private farm located in the Kupiškis region to assess the effects of different fertilizer formulations on the growth, yield, and quality parameters of strawberries. The study involved a review of scientific literature, implementation of a field trial, evaluation of yield performance and fruit quality (based on Brix index), as well as an analysis of potential economic benefits. The experimental design compared two fertilizer formulations: NovaTec Solub, a stabilized nitrogen fertilizer incorporating the nitrification inhibitor DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate), and a conventional mineral fertilizer. The application of a nitrification inhibitor is known to reduce nitrogen leaching and improve nitrogen use efficiency. The results indicated that NovaTec Solub significantly increased the yield of the 'Asia' strawberry cultivar by 20.4% compared to the conventional treatment. Although the Brix index was slightly higher in strawberries treated with conventional fertilizer (14.08) compared to those fertilized with NovaTec Solub (13.85), the difference was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that stabilized nitrogen fertilizers are effective in enhancing strawberry productivity without negatively affecting fruit quality. Therefore, their use may offer agronomic and economic advantages in commercial berry production systems.