Effect of different levels of nitrogen, vermicompost and Nitragin on morphological features, greenness index and yield of strawberry under greenhouse conditions

The use of organic and biological fertilizers is important for achieving sustainable agriculture, reducing the application of chemical fertilizers and the production of healthy crops. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to study the effects of vermicompost, Nitragin, and nitrogen on some growth parameters of strawberry (Fragariaananassa Duch. cv. Aromas). Treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments consisted of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen equal to 0, 75, 112.5 and 150 mg N pot-1), vermicompost (0, 0.5%, and 1% w/w), and Nitragin (inoculation and non-inoculation). Nitragin application increased total fruit yield by 8.5 percent. The highest total fruit yield (71.8 gpot-1) obtained with application of 75 kgha-1 along with 0.5% vermicompost and inoculation with Nitragin and the lowest one (13.3 gpot-1) obtained in control treatment. The highest dry matter (6.06 g) obtained with co-application of 100 kgha-1nitrogen, 1% vermicompost, and inoculation with Nitragin. The effects of the application of 75 kgha-1nitrogen fertilizer with vermicompost and nitragin were similar to the single application of 100 kg ha-1nitrogen. Biofertilizers application may increase plant yield and reduce nitrogen fertilizer usage (up to 25%).