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

麦吉尔大学和Ferme onsamme Pouliot公司正在为NSERC合作研究与发展基金（CRD）合作，以优化替代生产系统中使用的特定文化实践的性能，这些生产系统目前正在该部门实施，用于日中性草莓，这种草莓具有持续开花的能力。例如，在露天田地或遮阳棚下使用无土系统增加了提高草莓产业生产力的潜力。在这些生产条件下，将研究改变草莓植株形态发育的措施，以优化果实产量和品质。在草莓移栽生产初期，将采用不同的人工光照处理和调节施肥组合。将测试光处理的时间和长度以及氮肥的比例和施用量。为了建立草莓移栽的产量预测模型，将对整个种植周期的植株发育进行制图。整个项目将遵循可持续原则进行，其长期目标是提高投入物使用效率，同时提高无土种植系统的生产力潜力。这项工作将在项目期间共培养三名研究生，以及每年培养一名本科学生，在一个充分发展的部门，对高技能劳动力有很高的需求。除了提高生产力带来的经济效益外，该项目的成果还将对提高养分利用效率产生重大的环境影响。这不仅对参与该项目的公司具有重要意义，而且从长远来看，随着新做法的实施，整个草莓行业也将受到影响。

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.