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COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT ENHANCED PLANT

GROWTH AND FRUIT QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY
a b
Shiow Y. Wang & Shin-Shan Lin
a
Fruit Laboratory , Henry A. Wallace–Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural
Research Service, US Department of Agriculture , Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, U.S.A.
b
Miaoli Agricultural Improvement Station , Miaoli, 363., Taiwan
Published online: 16 Aug 2006.

To cite this article: Shiow Y. Wang & Shin-Shan Lin (2002) COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT ENHANCED PLANT GROWTH AND
FRUIT QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY, Journal of Plant Nutrition, 25:10, 2243-2259, DOI: 10.1081/PLN-120014073

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/PLN-120014073

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JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION

Vol. 25, No. 10, pp. 2243–2259, 2002

COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT

ENHANCED PLANT GROWTH AND FRUIT
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QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY

Shiow Y. Wang* and Shin-Shan Lin**

Fruit Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace–Beltsville Agricultural

Research Center, Agricultural Research Service,
US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350

ABSTRACT

Compost significantly enhanced strawberry (Fragaria 6 ananassa

Duch.) plant growth and fruit quality when used as a soil sup-
plement. Adding half strength of Peter nutrient solution (50%
fertilizer) to a mixture of 50% soil plus 50% compost was very
effective in significantly increasing plant dry weight to approxi-
mately double that of controls (without compost), fruit yield by
more than 70%, and fruit size by 15% compared to controls in
the two strawberry cultivars (‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’). Com-
post and fertilizer also significantly enhanced leaf chlorophyll
content. Nitrate reductase activity significantly increased in
leaves and roots with the greatest increases when using 50% soil
plus 50% compost. Strawberry plants grown with compost had
significantly higher levels of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), but
lower levels of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo),

*Corresponding author. Fax: 301-504-5062; E-mail: wangs@ba.ars.usda.gov

**Current address: Miaoli Agricultural Improvement Station, Miaoli, Taiwan 363.

2243

DOI: 10.1081=PLN-120014073 0190-4167 (Print); 1532-4087 (Online)

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2244 WANG AND LIN

and nickel (Ni) in fruit of both ‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’.

Adding compost to the soil mix did not change zinc (Zn) and
cadmium (Cd) levels. Use of compost also significantly
increased levels of organic acids (malic and citric acid), sugars
(fructose, glucose, and total sugars), soluble solids content, and
titratable acidity content in both cultivars. The results indicate
that the use of compost can reduce the amount of fertilizer
required for optimum strawberry plant growth.
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INTRODUCTION

High organic matter content in soil has been associated with increases in
water-holding capacity, cation-exchange capacity, aeration, and root depth as well
as decreases in soil crusting and erosion.[1,2] Compost has been utilized in
agriculture as a significant source of organic matter. Effects of compost on crop
production can vary according to the feedstock, compost production methods,
storage, use rates, and methods.[3–5] When mature composts made from feedstock
low in heavy metals and other toxic contaminants were used, improvements due
to higher levels of nutrients and organic matter were seen in the plant growth.[6,7]
Studies have also indicated that the use of compost hinders growth of plant
pathogens.[7] In the United States, however, the use of mined and manufactured
fertilizers has decreased the use of compost and other organic matter as sources
of plant nutrients. Along with the rising prices of commercial fertilizers, the onset
of recent studies on sustainable agricultural practices and increased awareness of
environmental problems, such as soil erosion and nutrient leaching, has led to a
renewed interest in compost research and use. Composts have been used as
transplant media, as mulch, and for suppression of weed growth.[7,8] Composts
have been shown to be beneficial in fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crop
production.[7,9] However, compost containing animal pathogens, and=or high
levels of heavy metals should have minimal usage. Little information is available
on the effect of composts as soil amendments on the growth and fruit composition
of strawberry. The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate the effects of
mature compost as a soil supplement on strawberry plant growth and fruit quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plant Materials and Treatments

‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ strawberry were grown on four soil treatments:

(a) 100% soil, (b) 50% soil plus 50% sand, (c) 50% soil plus 50% compost
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COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY 2245

(agricultural waste compost, obtained from USDA Compost Center, Beltsville

Agricultural Research Center), and (d) 100% compost. They were planted in pots
(15.0612.0 cm, E. C. Geiger, Inc., Harleysville, PA) and grown in the green-
house. Six random soil samples from each soil treatment (with and=or without
composts as soil supplement) were analyzed for nutrients and other soil
characteristics through the Soil Testing Laboratory, University of Maryland,
College Park, MD (Table 1). Each soil treatment was sub-divided into three
groups: (i) control (no fertilizer, water only); (ii) fertilized bi-weekly with a half
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strength of Peter’s solution (20–20–20, N–P–K) (50% fertilizer); and (iii) fertilized
bi-weekly with a full strength of Peter’s solution (100% fertilizer). All plants were
watered daily and each group contained twenty plants. Radiation sources in the
greenhouse consisted of natural day light and incandescent lamps which provided
a PAR level of about 700 to 800 mmol m
2 s
1 for 14 h=d (0600–2000 h). Day
and night temperatures were approximately 25 C and 20 C, respectively. The
plants were grown for six months as described above and then exposed to ambient
winter temperatures in Beltsville, MD, in an unheated greenhouse from October
to February. Plants were then moved back to a heated greenhouse to force

Table 1. Chemical Characteristics of Planting Media Used in This Study

Treatment

100% 50% Soil þ 50% Soil þ 100%

Componentz Soil 50% Sand 50% Compost Compost
pH 6.9ayx 7.0a 7.2b 7.3b
Mg (ppm) 394.0b 199.0a 473.0c 674.0d
P (ppm) 824.5d 517.5a 777.0c 662.0b
K (ppm) 67.5b 35.5a 129.0c 177.5d
Ca (ppm) 3518.0b 1366.0a 4808.0c 5598.0d
Zn (ppm) 11.05b 6.05a 12.4b 51.0c
B (ppm) 0.57b 0.31a 0.59b 0.68b
Mn (ppm) 40.0b 31.0a 55.0c 110.0d
Cu (ppm) 0.4b 0.30a 0.55c 1.25d
SO4–S (ppm) 4.07a 3.48a 10.29b 21.39c
NO3–N (ppm) 118.0b 105.5a 158.0c 179.0d
Soluble Salts (ppm) 102.0a 102.0a 225.0b 715.0c
O.M. (%) 4.27b 2.10a 7.42c 25.6d
z
The maturity of compost was 100% (fully composted) and the total C and N contents of
compost were 25.1% and 1.56%, respectively.
y
University of Maryland Soil Testing Laboratory #7436.
x
Values within a row followed by different letters are significantly different at p  0.05.
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2246 WANG AND LIN

flowering. The firm-ripe fruits were harvested from each cultivar of each group
of each treatment during the fruiting stage for chemical analyses. Fruit tissue
was also collected and dried for 72 h at 70 C, ground to 20 mesh in a Wiley
mill for tissue analysis by the Agricultural Analytical Service Laboratory,
The Pennsylvania State University, for heavy metal content and nutrient
concentration.
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Chlorophyll Measurement

Ten healthy, fully expanded leaves per cultivar per treatment were used for
chlorophyll analysis. Extractable chlorophyll level in strawberry leaves was
performed using 1.0 cm-diameter leaf discs which were extracted with 80%
acetone. Chlorophyll content of leaf discs was determined using the spectro-
photometric method of Bruinsma.[10]

Nitrate Reductase (NR) Activity Assay

The in vivo NR assay was based on the assays of Hageman and Reed.[11]
Healthy mature fully expanded leaves from various treatments were cut into 1-cm
diameter discs using a #4 corkborer. Root samples were collected and cut into
1-cm long pieces. Approximately 0.5 g of leaf discs and roots were weighed into
test tubes. Five mL of assay solution containing 100 mM potassium phosphate
buffer (pH 7.5) and 2% n-propanol was added to each tube. Potassium nitrate
(30 mM) was also added to the assay medium. The samples were then vacuum
infiltrated (5 mm Hg) twice for 3 min and incubated in the dark in a shaking water
bath for 60 min at 30 C. The amount of nitrite produced was determined as a
measure of NR activity by developing the azo color complex with 1%
sufanilamide in 3 N HCl and 0.12% N-(1-naphthyl-ethylene diamine). After
allowing 30 min for full color development, absorbance was determined at
540 nm using a spectrophotometer (Shimadzu UV-160A, Columbia, MD).
A standard curve in the range 0–100 mmol KNO2 was used. Enzyme activity
was expressed as nmoles NO2
produced=hr=g fresh weight.

Soluble Solids (SSC) and Titratable Acidity (TA)

Fruits were cut into small slices, mixed, and subsampled. Portions for
carbohydrate and organic acid analyses were frozen. A portion was pressed
through cheese cloth to express the juice used for SSC and TA determinations.
The SSC of the fruit was determined on a digital Palette 100 PR-100
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COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY 2247

refractometer (ATAGO-Spectrum Technologies, Inc., Plainfield, IL) standardized

with distilled water. TA was determined by diluting each 5 mL aliquot of
strawberry juice to 100 mL with distilled water and adjusting the pH to 8.2 using
0.1 N NaOH. Acidity was expressed as mg citric acid=100 mL juice.
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Sugar Analysis

Fruit tissue (20 g of composite fresh fruit tissues from 10 berries) were
extracted with 40 mL of 80% ethanol, then centrifuged at 50006g for 5 min. The
residue was re-extracted and washed twice by centrifugation and re-suspended in
80% ethanol (20 mL each time). The supernatants were combined (the final total
volume for each sample was 100 mL ethanol) and an aliquot of the extract was
concentrated to dryness in vacuo in 5-mL derivatizing vials and used for sugar
analysis. Derivatization of the sugars was performed according to the procedures
described by Wang et al.[12]

Organic Acid Analysis

A Baker 10 extraction system (J. T. Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) was used for
purification of the organic acids in the fruit tissue. Twenty grams of composited
frozen fruit tissue were extracted with 100 mL of 20 mM imidazole buffer
(pH 7.0). A 40 mL aliquot was then placed onto a 3-mL quaternary amine column,
which were previously conditioned with hexane and methanol. The organic acids
were eluted with 6 mL 0.1 N HCl. The eluate was concentrated to dryness under
vacuum. The derivatization and determination of the organic acids by gas
chromatographic technique were conducted as previously described.[12]

Statistical Analysis

All experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with

five replicates for each treatment. Data were subjected to analysis of variance by
the Tukey–Kramer Multiple-Comparison test used in NCSS,[13] and differences at
P  0.05 were considered significant.
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2248 WANG AND LIN

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effect of Compost as Soil Supplement on Plant Growth

and Fruit Production

Plants of ‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ showed similar growth responses

(as expressed by plant dry weight and fruit fresh weight) to compost treatment
(Tables 2 and 3). The planting medium6fertilizer interaction for fruit fresh
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weight, and leaf chlorophyll content were significant (Tables 2 and 3). Compost
as a soil supplement significantly enhanced strawberry plant growth in both
cultivars. Plant growth, fruit yield and fruit size of both cultivars were smallest
when plants were grown in 50% soil plus 50% sand. Plant dry weight, fruit yield
and size were greatest, and in many cases twice that of controls (100% soil), with
50% soil plus 50% compost. Increased fruit yield and size for crops grown in
plots amended with compost have also been previously reported.[6] Ozores-
Hampton and Bryan[14] showed the application of mixed municipal waste (MSW)
composts at 90 and 134 t ha
1 increased marketable eggplant fruit and bell pepper
yields. Marketable yield of tomato fruits increased at 37, 74, and 148 t ha
1 of
compost application.[15] Composts also increased cucumber and pepper yield and
fruit size;[16] enhanced cabbage, carrots, potato and tomato fruit quality; and
improved storage performance.[17] Composts significantly reduced nitrates as well
as the ratio of nitrate to vitamin C in vegetables.[17] This is likely because the
addition of compost causes changes in soil chemical and physical characteristics
such as a reduction in bulk density and an increase in hydraulic conductivity and
water-holding capacity,[18] increases in beneficial microorganisms,[19] changes in
levels and forms of nutrients,[20] and increases in NO3 production, CO2 evolution,
and ion exchange capacity,[21] thus favoring plant and fruit growth. The 100%
compost was less effective than the combination of 50% soil plus 50% compost,
likely because of the increased soluble salts and pH in the 100% compost.
Without compost, the addition of fertilizer enhanced plants grown and increased
fruit weight. The largest beneficial effect was seen when comparing no fertilizer
to 50% fertilizer. However, there was only minor additional benefit when
comparing compost with 50% fertilizer to compost with 100% fertilizer.
Therefore, a combination of 50% fertilizer with 50% soil þ 50% compost is most
effective. Similarly, Ehrig and Stahr[22] found that little compost could be
substituted for mineral fertilizers for production of potatoes, onions, and
strawberries.
Effects of fertilizer and compost on strawberry leaf color were significant
and had trends similar to plant and fruit weights. Plants grown with compost and
fertilizer had higher leaf chlorophyll content (Tables 2 and 3). Lowest chlorophyll
content were observed in 50% soil plus 50% sand treatments, while the highest
chlorophyll content were in 50% soil plus 50% compost. Roe et al.[16] also report
 Downloaded by [University of Connecticut] at 13:12 11 October 2014

Table 2. Effect of Additional Compost as a Soil Supplement on ‘‘Allstar’’ Strawberry Plant Growth

Nitrate Reductase
Leaf Activity (nmol
Plant Fruit Fresh Average Fruit Fresh Chlorophyll NO2
=hr=g Fresh wt)
Dry Weight Weight Weight Content
Planting Medium (g=Plant) (g=Plant) (g=Fruit) (mg=g Fresh Weight) Roots Leaves
No Fertilizer
100% soil 6.51abz 79.2b 12.2a 2.56b 241.2b 162.3b
50% soil þ 50% sand 5.88a 51.6a 11.9a 2.37a 202.3a 131.6a
50% soil þ 50% compost 18.04fg 226.2f 15.0d 2.78def 286.3ef 197.9f
100% compost 14.02e 184.0e 14.1bc 2.71cd 271.9d 186.6de
50% Fertilizer (Half Strength)
100% soil 9.38c 150.6d 13.7bc 2.68c 265.8cd 181.7cd
50% soil þ 50% sand 8.63bc 130.4c 12.2a 2.55b 239.2b 160.7b
50% soil þ 50% compost 20.24gh 259.4g 16.4f 2.92g 306.0i 220.1i
100% compost 17.43f 233.8f 16.0ef 2.89g 299.0h 202.3fgh
100% Fertilizer (Full Strength)
100% soil 12.47e 171.0de 14.9cd 2.81ef 292.4fgh 200.3fg
50% soil þ 50% sand 11.79de 154.3d 13.4bc 2.76de 282.2ef 194.7ef
50% soil þ 50% compost 21.12h 261.6g 16.9f 2.98h 304.5hi 214.7i
COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY

100% compost 18.25f 238.0f 16.3f 2.89g 296.6hi 210.6hi

Significancey
Medium [M] ** ** ** ** ** **
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Fertilizer [F] ** ** ** ** ** **
M6F ns ** ns ** ** **
z
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different at p  0.05.
y
2249

ns, **, non-significant or significant at p  0.05.

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Table 3. Effect of Additional Compost as a Soil Supplement on ‘‘Honeoye’’ Strawberry Plant Growth
2250
Nitrate Reductase
Leaf Activity (nmol
Plant Fruit Fresh Average Fruit Fresh Chlorophyll NO2
=hr=g Fresh
Dry Weight Weight Weight Content wt)

Planting Medium (g=Plant) (g=Plant) (g=Fruit) (mg=g Fresh Weight) Roots Leaves
No Fertilizer
100% soil 8.72bz 69.4b 7.2ab 2.17b 156.8b 99.4b
50% soil þ 50% sand 5.50a 60.6a 6.5a 1.99a 128.1a 70.8a
50% soil þ 50% compost 13.85d 148.0h 8.5cde 2.53de 239.3d 163.9d
100% compost 13.00d 134.4g 8.2cd 2.50d 218.1c 145.6c
50% Fertilizer (Half Strength)
100% soil 10.73c 112.6d 8.0bc 2.31c 208.5c 136.5c
50% soil þ 50% sand 8.89b 104.2c 7.4b 2.15b 157.3b 96.1b
50% soil þ 50% compost 17.82g 199.0j 9.2ef 2.63ef 255.5e 173.7d
100% compost 15.66e 180.6i 8.8cde 2.58e 245.3d 170.6de
100% Fertilizer (Full Strength)
100% soil 13.84d 129.5fg 8.7cde 2.56e 241.2d 162.4d
50% soil þ 50% sand 12.78d 121.3e 8.3cd 2.45d 218.7c 144.6c
50% soil þ 50% compost 18.21g 203.8j 9.3ef 2.76g 256.4e 179.7e
100% compost 15.84ef 188.2i 9.4f 2.69fg 247.8d 175.9e
Significancey
Medium [M] ** ** ** ** ** **
Fertilizer [F] ** ** ** ** ** **
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M6F ns ** ns ** ** **
z
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different at p  0.05.
WANG AND LIN

y
ns, **, non-significant or significant at p  0.05.
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COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY 2251

that green leaf color in pepper increased significantly with increasing fertilizer
rates, regardless of compost use.
The effect of compost on plant growth varies depending upon several
factors. One condition which may affect plants’ response is compost maturity.
Composts which were less mature (not fully composted) had a tendency to
suppress the plant growth of certain species such as tomatoes, cabbages, carrots,
and komatsuna whereas the more mature composts did not.[5,23] Various species
and the condition of the soil can also lead to different responses in plant growth
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after compost application. The use of mixed municipal waste compost in loamy
sand soil on lettuce decreased the dry mass. Optimal conditions for lettuce growth
was obtained in loam and clay loam with 67 t ha
1.[7] Plants also respond
differently to various types of composts. Composts with higher percentages of
heavy metals tend to reduce the dry mass of tomatoes.[24]

Nitrate Reductase Activity

Nitrate reductase activity increased in leaves and roots with the addition
of compost and fertilizer (Tables 2 and 3). The planting medium6fertilizer
interaction for nitrate reductase activity were significant (Tables 2 and 3). The
highest increases were seen when using 50% soil plus 50% compost. This may be
due in part to NO3–N and K þ concentration in the soil medium (Table 1). High
level (100%) of compost had less effect on nitrate reductase activity than the soil
plus compost combination. Chaney et al.[25] found soluble salts can be a problem
with high levels of composts. Compost as soil supplement also increased Mg,
P, Ca, Zn, B, Mn, Cu, SO4–S, soluble salts and organic matters (Table 1).
The increase in K þ concentration promoted the polymerization of primary
metabolites.[26] It appears that K þ concentration influences the availability of
organic substrates which are needed for the synthesis of nitrate reductase.[27]
Nitrate reductase is a key enzyme in the nitrogen cycle and catalyzes the first step
of nitrate assimilation in plants[28] and can be found in roots, stems and leaves in
various fruit plants.[29,30] The rate of NR activity has been found closely
associated with plant growth and ultimately with crop yield.[28] The NR activity
in strawberry was also closely related to total plant dry weight and fruit fresh
weight in this study (Tables 2 and 3).

Element Content of ‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ Strawberry Fruit

Addition of compost as a soil amendment significantly increased soil

nutrients with regards to many of the measured components (Table 1). Fruit of
‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ grown with compost, had higher levels of N and K than
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2252 WANG AND LIN

those grown without compost (Tables 4 and 5). However, increases in soil nutrient
do not always result in increased plant nutritional concentration. Hornick[31]
reported that annual applications of biosolids (sewage sludge=wood chips;
BS=WC) compost increased N, P, and K concentrations in the soil, but not in
sweet corn grain. However, compost application did increase N in leaves of
orange[32] and pear.[33] Concentrations of N and K were increased in broccoli and
cabbage grown in equal parts of BS=WC compost, sphagnum peat, and perlite.[34]
In our study, we found that strawberry fruit grown with compost had significantly
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lower levels of Mn, Fe, Mo, and Ni and the addition of compost to the soil mix
did not change Zn, Pb and Cd levels in both the ‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ fruit
(Tables 4 and 5). The compost we used was derived from animal manure, thus
there were fewer perceived potential problems from heavy metals.

Table 4. Element Content of ‘‘Allstar’’ Strawberry Fruit from Plants Grown with or
without Compost Measured at Commercial Harvest

Treatment

100% 50% Soil þ 50% Soil þ 100%

Elementz Soil 50% Sand 50% Compost Compost
N (%) 0.65ayx 0.72a 0.94b 0.98b
P (%) 0.24a 0.23a 0.25a 0.26a
K (%) 1.60a 1.50a 1.80b 1.90b
Ca (%) 0.20a 0.20a 0.20a 0.18a
Mg (%) 0.13a 0.13a 0.13a 0.14a
Mn (mg=g) 18b 16b 11a 12a
Fe (mg=g) 31b 30b 17a 17a
Cu (mg=g) 3a 4a 3a 3a
B (mg=g) 10a 10a 10a 10a
Al (mg=g) 4a 3a 4a 4a
Zn (mg=g) 10a 12a 11a 12a
Na (mg=g) 96b 92a 92a 98b
Cd (mg=kg) < 0.04a < 0.04a < 0.04a < 0.04a
Co (mg=kg) 0.06a 0.09a 0.07a 0.07a
Pb (mg=kg) < 0.25a < 0.25a < 0.25a < 0.25a
Mo (mg=kg) 0.48c 0.49c 0.25b 0.17a
Ni (mg=kg) 1.42c 1.45c 1.04b 0.66a
z
Plants received 50% (half strength) fertilizer treatment.
y
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different
at p  0.05.
x
The Pennsylvania State University, Agricultural Analytical Service Laboratory
#P1202029-P12036.
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COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY 2253

Table 5. Element Content of ‘‘Honeoye’’ Strawberry Fruit from Plants Grown with
or without Compost Measured at Commercial Harvestz

Treatment

100% 50% Soil þ 50% Soil þ 100%

Element Soil 50% Sand 50% Compost Compost
N (%) 0.85ayx 0.90a 0.98b 1.06b
P (%) 0.31a 0.34a 0.34a 0.35a
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K (%) 2.13a 2.11a 2.28b 2.32b

Ca (%) 0.32a 0.35a 0.33a 0.31a
Mg (%) 0.18a 0.17a 0.19a 0.20a
Mn (mg=g) 25a 20a 14b 16b
Fe (mg=g) 33a 23b 19c 18c
Cu (mg=g) 5a 4a 4a 3a
B (mg=g) 12a 11a 11a 11a
Al (mg=g) 3a 3a 3a 3a
Zn (mg=g) 13a 11a 14a 15a
Na (mg=g) 112a 110a 117a 115a
Cd (mg=kg) < 0.04a < 0.04a 0.04a 0.04a
Co (mg=kg) 0.08a 0.08a 0.07a 0.05a
Pb (mg=kg) < 0.25a < 0.25a < 0.25a < 0.25a
Mo (mg=kg) 0.26b 0.23b 0.14a 0.12a
Ni (mg=kg) 1.19b 0.93b 0.36a 0.14a
z
Plants received 50% fertilizer treatment.
y
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different
at p  0.05.
x
The Pennsylvania State University, Agricultural Analytical Service Laboratory
#P1202029-P12036.

Soluble Solids Content (SSC) and Titratable Acidity (TA)

The planting medium6fertilizer interaction for TA was significant

(Table 6). The effects of compost on fruit SSC and TA were significant in fruits
of both cultivars. The soluble solids content (SSC) was affected by fertilizer, but
TA was no affected by the addition of fertilizer (Table 6). The combination of
50% soil plus 50% compost proved to be the best for maximizing SSC and TA.

Sugars and Organic Acids

Sugars and organic acids have an important impact on the sensory quality
of strawberry fruit. For example, a strawberry with very low sugar and acid
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2254 WANG AND LIN

Table 6. Fruit Soluble Solids Content (SSC) and Titratable Acidity (TA) of ‘‘Allstar’’
and ‘‘Honeoye’’ Strawberry Plants Grown in Different Soils with or without Compost

SSC (%) TA (%)

Planting Medium Allstar Honeoye Allstar Honeoye

No Fertilizer
100% soil 7.0az 5.6bc 0.40a 0.45a
50% soil þ 50% sand 6.8a 5.2a 0.38a 0.44a
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50% soil þ 50% compost 8.1e 6.0d 0.48b 0.52b

100% compost 7.8d 5.9c 0.47b 0.51b
50% Fertilizer (Half Strength)
100% soil 7.3b 5.8c 0.41a 0.46a
50% soil þ 50% sand 7.0a 5.3a 0.39a 0.42a
50% soil þ 50% compost 8.2e 6.3e 0.51b 0.52b
100% compost 7.8d 6.1de 0.50b 0.51b
100% Fertilizer (Full Strength)
100% soil 7.4bc 5.9cd 0.42a 0.45a
50% soil þ 50% sand 7.1ab 5.6b 0.41a 0.42a
50% soil þ 50% compost 8.3e 6.3e 0.51b 0.54b
100% compost 7.8d 6.4e 0.50b 0.52b
Significancey
Medium [M] ** ** ** **
Fertilizer [F] ** ** ns ns
M6F ns ns ** **
z
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different
at p  0.05.
y
ns, **, non-significant or significant at p  0.05.

content tastes flat. Strawberry fruit contains reducing sugars such as fructose,
glucose and sucrose, comprising >65% of total fruit SSC. Carbohydrate and SSC
contents in the fruit were positively correlated (r ¼ 0.997). The proportions of
fructose, glucose, and sucrose are important in the perception of fruit quality
since fructose is 1.8 times sweeter than sucrose,[35] whereas the sweetness of
sucrose is about 1.7 times that of glucose.[36] Fructose, glucose, sucrose, and total
sugars were significantly increased with the addition of compost and fertilizer.
The planting medium6fertilizer interaction for fructose, glucose, and sucrose
were significant (Table 7). However, in both cultivars, the planting medium6
fertilizer interaction for total sugars was non-significant.
Citric acid is the primary organic acid found in strawberry fruit (Table 8).
The organic acid level (malic þ citric) was positively correlated with titratable
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Table 7. Sugar Content in Fruit from ‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ Strawberry Plants Grown in Different Soils with or without
Compost

Fructose % Glucose % Sucrose % Total %

Planting Medium Allstar Honeoye Allstar Honeoye Allstar Honeoye Allstar Honeoye
No Fertilizer
100% soil 1.93dz 1.25ab 1.24a 1.16bcd 1.58f 1.20d 4.75b 3.61b
50% soil þ 50% sand 1.61ab 1.15a 1.31ab 1.10ab 1.68g 1.12bc 4.60a 3.37a
50% soil þ 50% compost 2.40g 1.72efg 1.81c 1.25d 1.19ab 1.08ab 5.40f 4.05e
100% compost 2.26e 1.67e 1.78c 1.22cd 1.16a 1.04a 5.14cd 3.99de
50% Fertilizer (Half Strength)
100% soil 1.80d 1.39d 1.35b 1.14bc 1.69g 1.28e 4.84b 3.81c
50% soil þ 50% sand 1.68bc 1.28bc 1.39b 1.01a 1.70gh 1.16cd 4.77b 3.45a
50% soil þ 50% compost 2.36f 1.74fg 1.86cd 1.33e 1.32cd 1.10b 5.44f 4.17f
100% compost 2.25e 1.69ef 1.81c 1.29cd 1.25bc 1.08a 5.23de 4.06e
100% Fertilizer (Full Strength)
100% soil 1.53a 1.44d 1.33ab 1.25cd 2.20i 1.57g 5.06c 3.97d
50% soil þ 50% sand 1.76bc 1.39d 1.32ab 1.17b 1.78h 1.45f 4.86b 3.68b
50% soil þ 50% compost 2.41f 1.91h 1.92d 1.51f 1.39ef 1.20d 5.87g 4.38h
COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY

100% compost 2.16e 1.78fg 1.87cd 1.39e 1.31c 1.12b 5.34ef 4.29g
Significancey
Medium [M] ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
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Fertilizer [F] ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
M6F ** ** ** ** ** ** ns ns
z
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different at p  0.05.
y
ns, **, non-significant or significant at p  0.05.
2255
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Table 8. Organic Acid Content in Fruit from ‘‘Allstar’’ and ‘‘Honeoye’’ Strawberry Plants Grown in Different Soils 2256
with or without Compost

Malic Acid þ
Malic Acid % Citric Acid % Citric Acid %

Planting Medium Allstar Honeoye Allstar Honeoye Allstar Honeoye

No Fertilizer
100% soil 0.06abz 0.11a 0.24a 0.22a 0.30a 0.33a
50% soil þ 50% sand 0.04a 0.10a 0.26ab 0.21a 0.30a 0.31a
50% soil þ 50% compost 0.11de 0.15c 0.30cd 0.30d 0.41cde 0.45fg
100% compost 0.10cde 0.15c 0.28bc 0.28cd 0.38bc 0.43ef
50% Fertilizer (Half Strength)
100% soil 0.07abc 0.11a 0.30cd 0.28cd 0.37b 0.39cd
50% soil þ 50% sand 0.04a 0.12ab 0.28bc 0.25b 0.32a 0.37bc
50% soil þ 50% compost 0.08bcd 0.18d 0.36f 0.31e 0.44ef 0.49h
100% compost 0.10cde 0.16c 0.33ef 0.29cd 0.42d 0.46g
100% Fertilizer (Full Strength)
100% soil 0.12e 0.11a 0.27abc 0.30de 0.39bcd 0.41de
50% soil þ 50% sand 0.09bcd 0.10a 0.29bcd 0.29cd 0.38bc 0.39c
50% soil þ 50% compost 0.16f 0.15c 0.33e 0.34f 0.49g 0.49h
100% compost 0.12e 0.14bc 0.35f 0.32ef 0.47fg 0.46g
Significancey
Medium [M] ** ** ** ** ** **
Fertilizer [F] ** ** ** ** ** **
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M6F ** ** ** ** ns ns
z
Values within a column followed by different letters are significantly different at p  0.05.
WANG AND LIN

y
ns, **, non-significant or significant at p  0.05.
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COMPOSTS AS SOIL SUPPLEMENT AND STRAWBERRY 2257

acidity (r ¼ 0.952). The organic acids, malic acid and citric acid, were increased
by the addition of fertilizer. Use of compost increased levels of organic acids in
both cultivars (Table 8). The planting medium6fertilizer interaction for total
organic acids in both cultivars was non-significant.
In conclusion, whereas our results suggest that composts in conjunction
with reduced fertilizer application can increase strawberry plant dry weight, and
yield, size, and quality of fruit, field studies need to be conducted to confirm our
greenhouse results.
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