<span lang=

Hussein, Naji Isam; Salih, Shukri Haji

doi:10.58928/ku26.17228

	Response of the Strawberry Plant Variety “Rubygem” to the Addition of Vermicompost and Foliar Application With Potassium and Boron
Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)
Volume 17, Issue 2, June 2026, Pages 264-276 PDF (628 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.58928/ku26.17228
Authors
Naji Isam Hussein^* ¹; Shukri Haji Salih²
¹Department of Horticulture. College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences. University of Duhok. Iraq
²Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq
Abstract
This experience was conducted from 22/2/2025 to 10/11/2025 in Horticultural orchards at the University of Duhok, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, which is situated in Sumel City, Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan region of Iraq., to investigate the effects of three dosages of liquid vermicompost (0, 50 and 100 ml plant-1) and Three doses of foliar potassium spray (0, 1 and 2 g L-1) and boron (0, 20 and 40 mg L-1) on the contents of the leaves and the increase in yield of the field-grown strawberry variety "Rubygem". The strawberry field soil's physical and chemical characteristics (clay 49.7%, silt 35.2%, sand 15.1%, total N 1.242%, available P 2.013 ppm, available K 2.151 ppm), with a planting distance of 40 by 75 cm, were determined. The following parameters were noted throughout the experiment: leaf protein content percentage, Zn (mg kg -1), length of flowering period (Day), juice density (g cm-3), hectare yield (kg h-1), distorter fruits percentage, fruit anthocyanins content (mg 100 gm-1 fruit flesh weight), glucose (g 100 g-1 on fresh weight). The overall results demonstrated that the progressive addition of boron, potassium, and vermicompost rates, especially at (100 ml plant-1 vermicompost, 2 g L-1 potassium and 20 and 40 mg L-1 boron) resulted in a significant increase in most of the metrics being studied. High rates of interaction between vermicompost, potassium, and boron produced leaf protein content percentage (13.048 %), Zn (41.488 mg kg -1), length of flowering period (94.750 Day), juice density (1.308 g cm-3), hectare yield (8800.816 kg h-1), distorter fruits percentage (24.585 %), fruit anthocyanins content (24.811mg 100 gm-1 fruit flesh weight) and glucose (1.925 g 100 g-1 on fresh weight).
Keywords
Strawberry; Vermicompost; Potassium oxide; Boric acid; Foliar application

References
[1]. Singh R, RR Sharma, SK Tyagi. (2007) Pre-harvest foliar application of calcium and boron influence physiological disorders, fruit yield and quality of strawberry. Sci. Hort.;112:215-220. DOI:10.1016/j.scienta.2006.12.019 [2]. Processing strawberry global market report (2025). The business research company, ID: 5980538, 175 Pages [3]. Giampieri, F, Alvarez-Suarez, J. M., & Battino, M. (2014). Strawberry and human health: Effects beyond antioxidant activity. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 62(18), 3867-3876. DOI: 10.1021/jf405455n [4]. Negi, Y. K., Sajwan, P., Uniyal, S., & Mishra, A. C. (2021). Enhancement in yield and nutritive qualities of strawberry fruits by the application of organic manures and biofertilizers. Scientia Horticulturae, 283, 110038. DOI:10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110038 [5]. Lim, S. L., Wu, T. Y., Lim, P. N., & Shak, K. P. Y. (2015). The use of vermicompost in organic farming: overview, effects on soil and economics. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 95(6), 1143-1156. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6849 [6]. Abdulkadhim, S., & Hussein, R. (2023). Effect of vermicompost and bio-chemical fertilizers on yield traits of strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa) Rubygem cultivar. Euphrates journal of agricultural science, 15(2), 375-386. [7]. Trejo‐Téllez, L. I., Gómez‐Trejo, L. F., & Gómez‐Merino, F. C. (2023). Biostimulant effects and concentration patterns of beneficial elements in plants. Beneficial Chemical Elements of Plants: Recent Developments and Future Prospects, 58-102. DOI:10.1002/9781119691419.ch4 [8]. Vago, I., Tolner, L., & Loch, J. (2009). Effect of chloride anionic stress on the yield amount and some quality parameters of strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch). Cereal Research Communications, 37, 81-84. DOI: 10.1556/CRC.37.2009. [9]. Bons, H. K., & Sharma, A. (2023). Impact of foliar sprays of potassium, calcium, and boron on fruit setting behavior, yield, and quality attributes in fruit crops: a review. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 46(13), 3232-3246. DOI:10.1080/01904167.2023.2192242 [10]. Verma, S., Dwivedi, A. K., & Tripathi, D. V. (2022). Effect of gibberellic acid and boron on growth, yield and yield attributory traits in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) under North Gangetic Plains. Yield and Yield Attributory Traits In Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) Under North Gangetic Plains (August 14, 2022). DOI:10.2139/ssrn.4189998 [11]. Arunkumar, K., Varghese, M. J., Sudhakar, S., Marimuthu, R., Paul, P. K., Ashiba, A., & Abishek, R. (2022). Foliar application of calcium and boron on yield and quality attributes of strawberry. Pharma Innovation, 11(4), 2054-7. [12]. Kumar, L., Bairwa, H. L., Mahawer, L. N., Meena, S. C., Kaushik, R. A., & Choudhary, R. C. (2021). Response of foliar spray of iron, zinc and boron in strawberry (Fragaria× ananassa Duch.) cv. winter dawn. [13]. Nakro, A., Bamouh, A., El Khatib, O., & Ghaouti, L. (2022). Effect of potassium source and dose on yield and quality of strawberry fruit. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 13(9), 1196-1208.DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2022.139081 [14]. Agheli, M., Pakkish, Z. & Mohammadrezakhani, S. (2025). The effect of boron and vitamin C foliar application on the yield and quality of strawberry fruit.Jurnal of plant process and function, Iranin society of plant physiology, Volume 14, Issue 65 (vol. 14, no. 65. 35 – 48. DOI: 10.22034/14.65.35 [15]. SAS Institute. (2015). Base SAS 9.4 procedures guide. SAS Institute [16]. Mariotti F. Tomé D. & Mirand P.P (2008). Converting nitrogen into protein-beyond 6.25 and Jones' factors. Critical reviews in food sci. and nut.; 48(2): 177-184. DOI: 10.1080/10408390701279749 [17]. Prom-u-thai, C., & Rerkasem, B. (2023). Comparison between Acid Digestion (ICP-OES) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometry for Zinc Concentration Determination in Rice (Oryza sativa L.). Foods, 12(5), 1044. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12051044 [18]. FAO: General standard for fruit juices and nectars; Codex Alimentarius Commission. (2005), www.codexalimentarius.org/.../standards/.../CXS_247. [19]. Ranganna, S. (2011) Handbook of Analysis and Quality Control for Fruit and Vegetable Products. 2nd edition, New Delhi, McGrow-Hill. [20]. Zhang, Z., Tian, R., Wan, J., Wang, Y., & Li, H. (2025). Combined analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics reveals the effects of sugar treatment on postharvest strawberry fruit quality. BMC Plant Biology, 25(1), 882. DOI:10.1186/s12870-025-06919-7 [21]. Kilic, N., Dasgan, H. Y., & Gruda, N. S. (2023). A novel approach for organic strawberry cultivation: Vermicompost-based fertilization and microbial complementary nutrition. Horticulturae, 9(6), 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060642 [22]. Tang, X., Li, Y., Fang, M., Li, W., Hong, Y., & Li, Y. (2024). Effects of different water storage and fertilizer retention substrates on growth, yield and quality of strawberry. Agronomy, 14(1), 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010205 [23]. Mufty, R. K., & Taha, S. M. (2021, November). Response two strawberry cultivars (fragaria X ananassa duch.) for foliar application of two organic fertilizers. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 910, No. 1, p. 012033). IOP Publishing. doi: 10.58928/ku23.14311 [24]. Trejo-Téllez, L. I., & Gómez-Merino, F. C. (2014). Nutrient management in strawberry: Effects on yield, quality and plant health. Strawberries: Cultivation, antioxidant properties and health benefits, 239-267. [25]. Ali, H. O., & Bani, S. H. S. (2024). Effect of planting dates, chilling periods and N/P foliar spray on flowering traits of strawberry (Fragaria× ananassa Duch) cv. Robygem in a hydroponic system. Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences, 15(4). https://doi.org.10.58928/ku25.16129 [26]. Joshi, R., Singh, J., & Vig, A. P. (2015). Vermicompost as an effective organic fertilizer and biocontrol agent: effect on growth, yield and quality of plants. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 14(1), 137-159. Http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11157-014-9347-1 [27]. Nyoro, A. G. (2023). Evaluation of Vermicompost-inorganic Fertilizer Combination on Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi). [28]. Wang, M., Zheng, Q., Shen, Q., & Guo, S. (2013). The critical role of potassium in plant stress response. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14(4), 7370-7390. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms14047370 [29]. Tohidloo, G., Souri, M. K., & Eskandarpour, S. (2018). Growth and Fruit Biochemical Characteristics of Three Strawberry Genotypes under Different Potassium Concentrations of Nutrient Solution. Open Agriculture, 3(1). DOI:10.1515/opag-2018-0039 [30]. Malekzadeh, M. R., Esmaeilizadeh, M., & Roosta, H. R. (2024). Optimizing strawberry growth and fruit quality through fertigation frequency and foliar application of potassium sulfate. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 24(2), 3042-3055. DOI:10.1007/s42729-024-01729-6 [31]. Yildrim E., Karlidag H., Turan M., (2009). Mitigation of salt stress in strawberry by foliar K, Ca and Mg nutrient supply. Plant Soil Environ, 55(5), 213-221. Http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/383-PSE [32]. Marschner H., Marschner’s (2012) mineral nutrition of higher plants. Third Edition, Academic Press, London.Https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-63043-9 [33]. Álvarez-Herrera, J. G., Jaime-Guerrero, M., & Fischer, G. (2025). The Effect of Boron on Fruit Quality: A Review. Horticulturae, 11(8), 992. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11080992 [34]. Ahmed, A. S., Sattar, A. G., Hussein, H. K., & Khurshed, D. N. (2023). Effect of Humic acid and potassium sulfate spraying on growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.). Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences, 14(3). DOI:10.58928/KU23.14326 [35]. Singh, J., Singh, M., Jain, A., Bhardwaj, S., Singh, A., Singh, D. K.,.. & Dubey, S. K. (2013). An introduction of plant nutrients and foliar fertilization: a review. Precision farming: a new approach, New Delhi: Daya Publishing Company, 252-320. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.1.1629.3844 [36]. Mohamed, M. H., Petropoulos, S. A., & Ali, M. M. E. (2021). The application of nitrogen fertilization and foliar spraying with calcium and boron affects growth aspects, chemical composition, productivity and fruit quality of strawberry plants. Horticulturae, 7(8), 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7080257 [37]. Jaakola, L. (2013). New insights into the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruits. Trends in Plant Science, 18(9), 477-483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2013.06.003 [38]. Barker, A. V., & Pilbeam, D. J. (Eds.). (2015). Handbook of plant nutrition. CRC press. Https://doi.org/10.1201/b18458
Statistics Article View: 326 PDF Download: 132

Response of the Strawberry Plant Variety “Rubygem” to the Addition of Vermicompost and Foliar Application With Potassium and Boron