Drainage mat

The treatment of seedling tray bottom water supply can significantly increase the stem diameter and root-crown ratio of strawberry seedlings, root length, projection area, surface area, root volume, root tip number, branch number and cross number by 55.90%, 68.61%, 68.27%, 74.58%, 28.37%, 59.23% and 59.38% respectively compared with the treatment of sprinkler irrigation. 40 days and 60 days after cutting, the disease index of strawberry anthracnose in the bottom water supply treatment was reduced by 81.84% and 84.90% respectively compared with the treatment of sprinkler irrigation. Microbial diversity analysis found that the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Chaetomium in strawberry leaves treated with bottom water supply was higher, and the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Colletotrichum in strawberry seedling leaves and roots treated with sprinkler irrigation was higher. In summary, the bottom water supply of strawberry cutting seedlings can promote the growth of seedling roots, control the leggy growth of plants, and reduce the occurrence of diseases such as anthracnose.
Raising strawberry seedlings through the bottom tray water supply method not only ensures the uniformity of water distribution, but also effectively avoids the problem of pathogen breeding caused by wet leaves. This water supply method is particularly critical in the early and middle stages of cutting seedlings, which can significantly improve the survival rate of cuttings, promote the rooting speed of cuttings, and improve the uniformity and robustness. In addition, the bottom tray water supply reduces the scouring of the surface of the matrix by water flow, helps to maintain the physical structure stability of the seedling matrix, improves the water and fertilizer retention performance, and creates good conditions for the healthy development of the root system.
The study also found that the bottom water supply treatment can effectively extend the wet time of the matrix and reduce the frequency of watering without increasing additional management costs, which is conducive to water saving and fertilizer control, and is in line with the trend of modern facility agriculture. Especially when operating under high temperature and high humidity conditions, bottom water supply is significantly better than traditional sprinkler irrigation, which can significantly prevent the frequency of disease occurrence, reduce the frequency of food use, and reduce the pressure of pest and disease management during strawberry seedling cultivation.
From the actual production effect, the chassis water supply system is more convenient for standardized operation and large-scale promotion, and is suitable for popularization and application in large-scale seedling bases or smart greenhouses. When used with a non-hole seedling tray or a matching tray, it can further optimize water utilization efficiency, improve the stability of the microecological environment in the root zone, and provide solid protection for the healthy, green, and effective seedling cultivation of economic crops such as strawberries.