Effect of seaweed extract application on the growth, flowering and fruit characteristics of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa duch) CV albion growing in Iraq conditions

This experiment was established in pots during vegetative period of 2017, in Kalar Sulaymaniyah, North of Iraq, to investigate the effect of seaweed extract (Alga 600) of four concentrations (0,2,4,8 g.L-1) by fertigation system on growth, flowering, yield and quality properties of strawberry cv. Albion., Drip irrigation system was used for irrigation of the plants. As we come to the results in terms of the vegetative growth characters, increasing seaweed extract (Alga 600) amounts was found different statically on number of crown (p<0,01). The results with regard to flower properties show that increasing seaweed extract applications are significant on number of flower per plant from 16,55 units/plant to 21,77 units/plant (p<0,05). The results in point of fruit properties show that increasing Alga 600 amounts caused to significant increasing on number of fruit per plant from 11,81units/plant to 17,7 units/plant (p<0.01) and total volume of fruit from 211,74 ml to 329,37 ml p<0.05) and show the significant increasing on yield properties per plant from 191,7 g to 295,03 g compare with control treatment (p<0.05). The results show that increasing seaweed extract caused to significant increasing on fruit qualitative (TSS/TA ratio from 8,29 to 13,35) compare with control treatment and increasing seaweed application caused to significantly decreases on TA in the fruit (p<0.05). According to the macro and micro elements analyses results, the effect of the manganese content in leaf at flowering stage was also found significant (p<0.05). Keywords: strawberry, organic fertilization, seaweed, Albion, vegetative growth, flowering, pomological properties.