Effects of green manure in greenhouse and crop rotation on open area on organic strawberry cultivation

This study aims at investigating the effects of crop rotation on open field and green manure in greenhouses and farmyard manure applications on organic strawberry cultivation production, in order to maintain soil productivity. The experiment was carried out on the open field and in glass greenhouse (1000 m2), of Çukurova University Yumurtalık Vocational School of Higher Education, during the years of 2011-2012, as certified by the Ekotar . In the study performed on open field, (1) cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.), (2) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), (3) cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were used as preceding crop in rotation, also, including no preceding crop as control. Moreover, these plots were given certified organic manure [(1) with manure and (2) without manure]. In the study performed in greenhouse, (1) cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.), (2) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were used as the green manuring, including follow plots as control. Moreover, these plots were given certified organic manure [(1) with manure and (2) without manure]. Field trials were arranged in split- plots design with four replications, preceding crop and green manuring treatments were main-plots, organic manure applications were sub-plots The effects of the treatments on macro and micro nutrients uptakes were determined. Also, making economic analysis, the profitability was compared between the organic strawberry cultivated after crop rotation on open area and green fertilization in greenhouses. As a result, as far as the yield per plant and fruit weight were considered, effects of the treatments were significant while in terms of fruit properties such as, pH, titratable acidity, total water-soluble dry matter hardness, and pigmentation, effects of treatments were significant. As the average of two years results a, total yield ranged from 162.62 to 387.76 g/plant, the highest one was obtained from cowpea as preceding crop plus organic manure. Under greenhouse study as influenced by green manuring, the yield per plant range from 191.05 to 319.23 g/plant the highest yield was obtained from the practice of pea plus organic manure. As a result of economic analysis, in both greenhouse and open field conditions, pea as a preceding crop-plus organic manure treatments were determined to be more feasible.