Combined Effect of Rice Husk Charcoal with Peatmoss or Cocopeat on Increasing Seedling Growth of Two Introduced Strawberry Cultivars

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran

2 Doctoral Program of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia

3 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia

4 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia

5 Tropical Agriculture Research Front, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Japan

6 Consultant JPV, Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

The introduction of strawberry cultivars from subtropical to tropical regions is one method to increase the strawberry fruit quality in tropical areas. However, attention must be paid to cultivation technology, from propagation to production, particularly hydroponic technology. The selection of planting media in the strawberry growth using the ebb and flow hydroponic system is crucial for producing high-quality seedlings. The aim of this study was to determine a suitable planting medium for the growth of seedlings from two Japanese cultivars, 'Berry pop Sakura' and 'Berry Pop Haruhi' in in ebb and flow hydroponics. The seedling of both cultivars were planted in seven different growing media: peatmoss, cocopeat, rice husk charcoal, peatmoss + cocopeat (1:1/v:v), peatmoss + rice husk charcoal (1:1/v:v), cocopeat + rice husk charcoal (1:1/v:v) under ebb and flow hydroponic system. The results showed that combination growing media were more effective than single growing media in increasing seedling growth in both cultivars. The combination of growing media of peatmoss + rice husk charcoal and cocopeat + rice husk charcoal was more effective than combination of peatmoss + cocopeat in increasing the plant height, fresh plant weight, leaves number and root number in both cultivars. We conclude that rice husk charcoal is effective as a mixture with peatmoss or cocopeat for a seedling growing medium for strawberry in tropical region under in ebb and flow hydroponics cultivation system

Keywords



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 31 January 2027
  • Receive Date: 17 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 26 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 28 September 2025