Important nutrients for the strawberry plant

by | Jul 8, 2026 | Project

Strawberry plants absorb nutrients almost exclusively through their roots. The leaves, on the other hand, are responsible for gas exchange within the plant. Various nutrients are already present in the soil solution, such as those from mineral fertilizers, the mineralization of plant residues, irrigation/rainfall, or the decomposition of humus. It is important to note that the nutrient uptake of some plants is often linked to the plant’s transpiration (calcium).

  • Essential Nutrients
    • Water, Carbon, Oxygen
  • Major Nutrients
    • Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium
    • Magnesium, Calcium, Sulfur
  • Trace Nutrients
    • Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron, Molybdenum
  • Other Nutrients
    • Sodium, Chlorine, Silicon, Aluminum, Fluorine, Cobalt

Soil Measurements

Measuring pH

Recommended Guidelines:

  • pH in the Root Zone
    • Soil: 6.5-7.0
    • Coconut Substrate: 5.5-6.0
    • Peat: 5.3-5.8
  • pH in Water
    • Soil: 5.8-6.1
    • Coconut Substrate: 5.3-5.5
    • Peat: 5.5-5.8

 

Measuring EC Value (for substrate cultivation)

Recommended guideline values ​​(may vary depending on conditions):

  • EC value for June-bearing strawberries
    • Drip EC: 1.3–1.8
    • Total drip and drain EC: 3.0–3.4
  • EC value for everbearing strawberries
    • Drip EC: 1.2–1.6
    • Total drip and drain EC: 2.8–3.2
  • EC (Electrical Conductivity) = Electrical resistance in the liquid
  • More ions in the solution = Higher EC value
  • Used to measure the salt/fertilizer content in the water/soil
  • Measured in microsiemens = mS
  • For berries, EC is in the range of 1.2 – 2.4 mS in the aqueous solution
  • High EC value
    • Risk of root burn
    • Smaller fruit
    • Higher Brix content
    • Better fruit shelf life

 

  • In Water
    • Good: up to 0.35
    • OK: 0.35 – 0.7
    • Difficult: 0.7 – 1.0
    • Not to be used: above 1.0
  • Drip EC
    • Measurement with an EC meter to monitor the fertigation solution
  • Drain EC
    • Measurement with an EC meter to determine how much fertilizer has not been absorbed
  • Total of drip and drain EC
    • As a guideline for developmental stages
  • Substrate EC
    • Monitored with special (expensive) measuring devices