MINERAL COMPOSITION OF FRUITS AND LEAVES OF SAN ANDREAS® EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY IN SOILLESS CULTIVATION

Technological progress in the cultivation of horticultural and fruit plants makes the use of soil becoming less and less important. Growing plants in soilless substrates is becoming more and more common. The aim of the study was to determine the variability of the mineral composition of fruits and leaves of everbearing strawberry of the San Andreas (R) variety in soilless cultivation. Research was carried out at the experimental plantation of Polski Instytut Truskawki Sp. z o.o. (geographical coordinates: 50 degrees 02'11 '' N and 19 degrees 81'19 '' E). The cultivation of everbearing strawberry of the San Andreas (R) variety was carried out in a gutter system under covers in coconut substrate. The stability of the chemical composition of strawberry leaves and fruits depends on fertilisation, weather factors, and the quality of water used for fertigation. Despite maintaining the content of nutrient in the rhizosphere at the level recommended for organic substrates, low potassium and calcium content and high magnesium content in strawberry leaves were determined. Among the macroelements analysed in strawberry leaves, the lowest variation coefficient values were found for nitrogen, magnesium and calcium, and in fruits - for nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium. The highest variation coefficients were obtained for phosphorus and sodium in strawberry leaves, and for sulphur and sodium in strawberry fruits. Variation coefficient values of copper, zinc, and manganese content in leaves were similar. The content of iron in leaves and zinc in fruits was characterised by the lowest variation coefficients during the growing period.