Kyle Govin

Holly Dolliver

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Impact of Foliage Applied Nutrients on Strawberry Production

Profitable strawberry production depends upon many factors; yield is one of the more important ones.  The focus of this research will be to compare the effects of two different fertility programs on commercial June- bearing strawberries. One treatment will be the utilization of the Agro-K foliage feeding program for strawberry production beginning in the spring and continued throughout the growing season. This program involves applications of different liquid fertilizer formulations during all stages of the production year. The treatment will be applied to the row using a shielded sprayer. Plant tissue analysis will be taken at the conclusion of the picking season to determine effects of the program on plant nutrient content. The control will be three band applications of granular fertilizer beginning after renovation with no applications made prior to picking. The rates will be determined by plant tissue analysis results taken following picking. Fruit yield will be recorded as pounds of saleable fruit per acre. The condition and health of the plants will also be observed and recorded to see if there is any change in fruit fungi and other diseases. The research is to be conducted near Menomonie, WI. This information gained through the research will be used to help determine future management practices on my farm along with other local berry patches.