This study was conducted at Central Laboratory for Agriculture Climate (CLAC), Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt during two successive seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 under open field urban conditions. The study investigated the effect of using as well as the efficiency of different soilless culture techniques including substrate culture systems; container, pots and horizontal bags beside two systems of nutrient film technique (NFT); vertical A shape and flat in a close system on vegetative growth and production of strawberry plants grown under open field conditions in urban area. Standard substrate used in all systems was peat moss: perlite (1:1 v/v). Planting densities differed regarding each used soilless system specifications.
Illustrated that, used substrate systems gave the highest vegetative growth characteristics, yield parameters, N, P and K contents of strawberry leaves as well as the highest water and power use efficiencies compared to NFT systems. The ecology sustainable agriculture of strawberry under urban conditions could achieved by implement substrate culture in general. Amongst substrate culture systems container system recorded the highest vegetative growth characteristics but the highest yield was attained by bags system . All substrate systems had the highest values of N, P and K contents of strawberry leaves compared to NFT systems. The study recommended that bags substrate system which recorded the highest yield per m2 (average 15.2 kg/m2), average PUE (2.4 kg/kw) and WUE (43.7 kg/m3) with an economic value followed by container system under urban conditions could be used for producing strawberry sustainably and ecologically.