Influence of intercropping on physico-chemical and biological soil properties in organic strawberry crop

Summary

The intercropping system promotes biological interactions, increasing plant resources efficiency such as nutrients, water and light use. The study was carried out in polytunnels using the organic Amandine® strawberry variety in the Baragan plain, in the southeast of Romania. Along the polytunnel's pole lines, Borago officinalis L. flower strip was seeded. For soil sampling were chosen two moments (April and October 2022) and were analysed the following physicochemical and microbiological parameters: pH, electrical conductivity, total soluble salts, total carbon and nitrogen and total number of bacteria and fungi. The results pointed out that the number of bacteria in the soil covered with flower strips increased significantly during the vegetation period for borage strips. In addition, Borage proved to be a companion species that inhibit weeds growth successfully, including in high infestation of Johnsongrass. After the first year, no significant differences regarding the soil physicochemical properties between the sampling periods were noticed.