EFFECT OF POLYMER SUPERSORBENT ADDED TO MEDIUM ON THE CONTENT OF MINERAL ELEMENTS IN STRAWBERRY LEAVES AND FRUIT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of polymer supersorbent AgroHydrogel, added to soil, on the content of some mineral elements in leaves and fruit of strawberry cv. Elsanta. In 2007-2008, a pot experiment set up in a system of complete randomization was carried out in four replications in a greenhouse of the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin. The experimental factor was the addition of two doses of AgoHydrogel to the medium. The two rates were 1.8 and 3.6 g dm –3 , i.e. 15 and 30 g per a Kick’s pot versus the control which was the medium with no gel. The experiment was carried out indoors. Soil moisture was measured by means of contact soil tensometers. The plants were watered with 0.5 dm3 per pot and the tensometer, fitted in the medium with 15 g of gel per pot, showed 450 hPa. The content of the elements in strawberry leaves and fruit was determined by means of the AAS method. The applied polymer supersorbent decreased the cummulation of zinc and lead in leaves and copper, nickel and lead in fruit of strawberry. This effect particularly visible in plants growing in the medium with an increased dose of hydrogel. However, the application of AgroHydrogel did not affect the content of iron, manganese, copper and nickel in leaves and manganese, zinc and iron in fruit of the analyzed variety of strawberry.