Background: In reducing postharvest losses, maintaining the quality of fruits can preserve nutrient content that earns higher prices in the market of fresh produce perishables. Strawberry as one of the economically important crops has led to increased production with high demand in many regions around the world. Maintaining the postharvest quality of this crop greatly influenced shelf-life and market demand, therefore, this study investigated the influence of various mulching methods and organic fertilizer particularly on the postharvest quality aspects and physicochemical analysis of strawberries. 
 
Methods: A study was conducted to determine the type of mulching methods (rice hull and plastic mulch) and organic fertilizers (vermicast, vermicompost and vermitea) used to enhance the postharvest quality of strawberries. Harvested fruits were carefully selected at commercial maturity stage and subjected to shelf-life evaluation and physicochemical analysis for 7 days of storage. It was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with ten sample fruits per treatment replicated three times. 
 
Result: Among the data parameters evaluated, strawberry fruits harvested under plastic mulch condition applied with vermicompost, vermicast and vermitea significantly produced great results in terms of improving the postharvest quality parameters evaluated particularly on the general acceptability, visual quality rating, firmness and shriveling index. On the other hand, comparable results were also observed among the physicochemical analysis of harvested fruits from all the treatments particularly on the total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA). The results revealed that strawberries under plastic mulch applied with organic fertilizers (vermicompost, vermicast and vermitea) enhanced postharvest quality and increased shelf-life of harvested strawberry fruits. 
&nbsp;

<div>Postharvest Quality and Physicochemical Analysis of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa L.) to Various Application of Mulching and Organic Fertilizers</div>

<div>Background: The importance of organic fertilizers in agricultural production has increased due to the negative effects of intensive chemical fertilizer use on soil, the environment and human health. Vermicompost, as a rich organic fertilizer and soil amendment material, maybe a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers. While a low concentration of vermicompost has a promotive effect on growth, it may lead to inhibition of germination and seedling growth. Therefore, this study aimed to find appropriate dose ranges for vermicompost application. 
 
Methods: The study was carried out as a factorial experiment with a completely randomized design with three replications. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber as a pot study with four doses of vermicompost (control, 10, 20 and 30%). Eight cultivars from four different species were used. The response of germination and seedling traits to increased vermicompost concentration was investigated. 
 
Result: In general, while 10% and 20% of vermicompost showed a promotive effect depending on species, higher dose inhibited the germination and dry matter accumulation. As a result, the promotive effect of low dose and inhibitory effect of higher doses are thought to be caused by the complex chemical composition of vermicompost and increasing medium pH. Therefore, the concentration of the vermicompost that will cause pH changes should be carefully considered and the pH range in which the plant species show optimum growth should be well determined.</div>

Postharvest Quality and Physicochemical Analysis of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa L.) to Various Application of Mulching and Organic Fertilizers

The Response of Grain Legumes to Vermicompost at Germination and Seedling Stages