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Short-term soil application of broiler litter (B) has had variable results when compared to inorganic nitrogen fertilizers (Ni). We grew `Oso Grande' strawberry on raised beds in the greenhouse and treated it with a preplant soil incorporation of B (N = 44, P = 15.3, H2O = 170 g·kg–1) at a N rate of 100 (B1) or 200 (B2) kg·ha–1, and Ni from ammonium nitrate (34.5N–0P–0K) [A] or fluid nitrogen with 10 g·kg-1 micro elements (30N–0P–0K) [F] applied in six equal monthly applications. Results show that fruit yield was increased under B-treated plots (P < 0.05), with B2 yielding the highest. Yield ranged between 172 to 324 g/plant. Fruit number per plant ranged from 14 to 24, with B2 yielding the highest (P < 0.05). Early flowering was enhanced by B2 (P < 0.05), which reflected in higher early yields under B2 (P < 0.05). Leaf tissue NO3-N, PO4-P and Fe were comparable among all treatments during the growing season. Soil NO3-N, available P, CaCO3, and pH at the end of the season were comparable among the treatments (P 0.05), whereas EC was reduced by B1 and F treatments (P < 0.05). We recommend B at 200 kg N/ha as a fertilizer for June-hearing strawberry, and as a good alternative to inorganic N fertilizers.

Yield and mite infestation were studied in `Chandler', `Milcin', `Milsei', and `Oso Grande' strawberry, as affected by floating rowcover application (R) inside a greenhouse in Beirut. Results showed that R reduced yield of all cultivars in comparison to noncovered (C) plants, primarily by the reduction in fruit number (P ≤ 0.05), during the winter and spring harvests. Cultivars varied in yield, irrespective of the cover treatment (P ≤ 0.05) and in yield distribution over the 4 months of harvest (P ≤ 0.05). The shading effect of R offset the slight rise in soil temperature it caused. Air temperature did not drop to a level that would stop plant growth. Red spider mite infestation started after rowcover removal. Mite adult, larva, and egg populations were comparable between the R and C treatments (P > 0.05). Miticide sprays were the effective way to control mites. It is recommended from this study not to use rowcovers on greenhouse-grown strawberries in the Mediterranean region.