Inefficient water, nutrient management constrains strawberry productivity in north

Inefficient synchronisation of water and nutrient supply, coupled with inadequate soil-moisture conservation, is constraining strawberry productivity in the north-western Himalayan region, according to a study by researchers at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur.Strawberry is an economically important, high-value fruit crop cultivated widely in temperate and subtropical regions. Its production is also expanding in tropical agro-ecosystems due to increasing consumer demand and its premium market value.However, strawberry cultivation is highly sensitive to agro-climatic variability, soil properties and resource availability. The crop possesses a shallow and fragile root system, coupled with high transpiration demand, making it particularly vulnerable to water stress and nutrient imbalance, the researchers observed.“Therefore, precise water and nutrient management is essential to sustain productivity and fruit quality under open-field conditions.