STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN DIFFERENT SOIL COVERS

Abstract

Mulching is a soil covering technique that consists of applying a layer of material over the soil surface, with
the aim of protecting the soil and plants, in addition to avoiding direct contact of the fruits with the soil,
reducing the risk of contamination. This study aimed to evaluate different types of soil covering and determine the most suitable material for strawberry cultivation in tropical climate regions. The treatments evaluated were: 1) plastic film; 2) Tifton grass hay; 3) sugarcane bagasse; 4) rice husk; 5) a control area without covering. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks, with five treatments, six replicates and four plants per plot, totaling 120 plants, with a spacing of 0.20 m between rows and plants. The variables analyzed were: seedbed and rhizosphere temperature (°C), average time from transplanting to first harvest (days), fresh fruit mass (g), fruit diameter (mm) and length (cm), soluble solids content (°Brix), estimated productivity (kg ha⁻¹), number of fruits per plant and production per plant (g). The results indicated that polyethylene plastic is the most efficient cover to favor productivity and fruit quality attributes. Sugarcane bagasse and the absence of cover showed intermediate results, while Tifton grass hay and rice husk did not demonstrate satisfactory performance in strawberry cultivation.