THE EFFECTS OF A NONWOVEN COVER IN COMBINATION WITH DIFFERENT SOIL MULCHES IN STRAWBERRY CULTIVATION

The effects of a non-woven cover and three different soil mulches on t he timing of harvest and on the yield of strawberry were examined in t wo field experiments in northern Finland during 1989-1993. The non-wov en cover was used either in spring or in both autumn and in spring. No n-covered plants served as controls. Depending on the year, plants cov ered in spring alone gave a significantly earlier (4 to 9 days) market able yield than did uncovered plants. The non-woven cover had no effec t on marketable yield at Sotkamo but at Rovaniemi it increased the yie ld, especially in cold years. The use of cover decreased the amount of mouldy berries. At both experimental sites, a significantly higher yi eld was obtained from beds covered with soil mulches than from uncover ed beds. White-on-black film delayed the yield by 2 to 4 days in compa rison with black or Mypex film.