ARS | Publication request: SOILLESS STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION

Submitted to: Advances in Strawberry Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: June 20, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The impending loss of methyl bromide (MB) as a soil fumigant has under- scored the need for alternative production schemes that preclude its use for pre-plant soil fumigation. Hydroponic and soilless production can meet that requirement and will provide opportunities to extend strawberry culture to areas outside the traditional geographic and environmental strawberry culture zones. In this article a review of hydroponic strawberr production around the world and research conducted by ARS on soilless strawberry production at Kearneysville, WV. ARS research has focused on growing strawberries for out-of-season fruiting during the part of the year when shipments of fresh strawberries from California and Florida are low. Although much has been learned about the factors critical for increasing fruit production in winter, more research is needed to develop environ- mentally and economically sustainable hydroponic strawberry production systems.