Effect of organic soil amendment and Trichoderma harzianum on strawberry

growth in soil infested by Phytophthora fragariae under greenhouse conditions

Mutah Lil-Buhuth wad-Dirasat

2014

Nail Al-Mulhan, Nofal Al-Ameiri and Atif Mahadeen

Greenhouse experiment was conducted at Rabbah Agricultural Research Station, Mu'tah University during the 2011 growing season to study the effect of potential use of organic fertilization (poultry and sheep) and Trichoderma harzianum on strawberry growth in soil infested with Phytophthora fragariae . Fresh and dry weights were taken, and N, P and K contents were analyzed. The results indicated that shoot and root fresh weights were increased when poultry and sheep manures applied compared with non organic soil amendments. The highest shoot and root fresh weights were produced by the application of 40 ton/ha of poultry manure with the presence of T. harzianum. In general, vegetative fresh weights were increased with increasing rates of poultry manure and T. harzianum. Application of poultry manure with addition of T. harzianum has significantly increased dry weight of shoot and root. Number of strawberry leaves was significantly affected by soil amendment type and levels, and T. harzianum. Application of different organic manures with T. harzianum increased leaves number of strawberry plants more than application of organic manures only. In general, each increment of poultry and sheep manure levels resulted in significant increases in strawberry leaf area. Leaf area was increased in all treatments when the bio-control was added to the soil with or without the pathogen. The values of N, P and K in shoot and root contents were significantly influenced by the type of  soil amendment application and its interaction with T. harzianum.