Optimization of alternative cultivation practices for transplant production of day-neutral strawberry

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McGill University and Ferme Onésime Pouliot inc. are joining forces for this NSERC Collaborative Research and Development Grant (CRD) in order to optimize the performance of specific cultural practices used in alternative production systems that are currently being implemented in the sector for day-neutral strawberries, which have the ability to flower continuously. For example, using soilless systems in open fields or under umbrella shelters have increased the potential to improve productivity for the strawberry industry. Practices aimed at modifying the morphological development of strawberry plants under those production conditions will be studied to optimize fruit yield and quality. Different combinations of artificial lighting treatments and adjusted fertilization will be applied in the early stages of strawberry transplants production. Timing and length of light treatments as well as nitrogen fertilizer ratios and rates will be tested. A mapping of the plant development throughout the cropping cycle will be conducted in order to develop a prediction model of production for strawberry transplants. This entire project will be conducted following sustainable principles with the long-term objective of increasing input use efficiency while increasing the productivity potential of soilless cropping systems. This work will train a total of three graduate students for the duration of the project as well as an undergraduate student on an annual basis in a sector in full development in which high-skilled labor is in high demand. In addition to economic benefits resulting from a higher productivity, results from this project will also have significant environmental impacts related to improved nutrient use efficiency. This not only has important implications for the company involved in the project but also, in the long term, for the entire strawberry industry as new practices will be implemented.