• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.578-586
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• 2016

In this study, we evaluated the effects of soil incorporation of crotalaria as a green manure on the growth and yields of 'Seolhyang' strawberry and inorganic soil nitrogen levels in a greenhouse. Four different N treatments were used, as follows: zero N fertilizer (control), crotalaria, crotalaria with 50% urea, and 100% urea. The recommended N requirement (100% urea) for strawberry was $86kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ and 50% of the recommended N (50% urea) was $43kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}$. Crotalaria was sowed on June $17^{th}$, 2011 and cultivated for 37 days. The amount of N supply from soil incorporation of crotalaria was $104kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}$. Strawberry was planted on September $9^{th}$, 2011 and cultivated for 255 days after planting. The concentrations of soluble solids and acidity of strawberry fruits for the crotalaria treatment were higher than for the crotalaria with 50% urea and 100% urea treatments. On the other hand, the growth and yield of strawberry was the highest for the crotalaria with 50% urea and 100% urea treatments, followed by the crotalaria treatment, and the lowest for the control. Soil inorganic N concentration for the crotalaria treatment was continuously decreased to $24mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ at the end of the growing season, while crotalaria with 50% urea and 100% urea treatments maintained an inorganic N concentration that ranged from 35 to $50mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$. These results indicate that the amount of N supply from soil incorporation of crotalaria may not be enough because strawberry yield was lower than for other N treatments. Therefore, additional nitrogen, such as 50% urea after soil incorporation of crotalaria, is recommended.