Optimum Nutrient Solution Strength for Korean Strawberry Cultivar 'Daewang' during Seedling Period

Abstract: Raising seedlings is important for fruit crops and is especially significant for strawberries as it accounts for 80% of their cultivation. However, there are few studies on raising seedlings of strawberries by hydroponics. Since strawberries sh ow clear differences in growth characteristics based on cultivar, it is necessary to develop suitable fertilizer formula, concentr ation and pH for each cultivar, and also to examine the amount of nutrient feeding appropriate for each medium type. A key to raising seedlings of strawberries by hydroponics is the development of strategies to manage the concentration of nutrient solut ion. The mother plants of ‘Daewang’ strawberries were planted on hydroponics benches filled with cocopeat on March 28, 2012. Three nutrient solution treatments were employed during the term of raising seedlings: a type that supplied EC 0.6 dS ･m -1 nutrient solution for 30 days and only water for 20 days [0.6 (30) + 20]; a type that supplied EC 1.2 dS ･m -1