## 2 Materials and Methods
### Research Farm Methods  
A study was conducted at a research farm in Ithaca, NY concurrently with the regional farm survey. A field of Arkport fine sandy loam (mesic Lamellie Hapludalf) at the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (42.441582, \(-\)76.472487) was divided into 72 plots that were 4.6 \(\times\) 3.6 m. Eight replications of nine treatments were randomly assigned to plots. Treatments represented a range of management practices that are commonly used for perennial matted row strawberry production in New York State (Table 1). The nine treatments included three different input sources: Organic (ORG), Conventional (CON), and Low Carbon (LOC). Each input source had three levels of intensity: (\(-\)) treatments received 50 kg N\(\cdot\)ha\({}^{-1}\) annually, (o) treatments received 100 kg N\(\cdot\)ha\({}^{-1}\), and (+) treatments received 100 kg N\(\cdot\)ha\({}^{-1}\) plus additional applications of non-fertil inputs. A standard grower recommendation in this region is 100 kg N\(\cdot\)ha\({}^{-1}\) annually [27]. A cover crop (wintery, _Secale cereale_ L.) was seeded in 48 of the 72 randomly assigned plots (CON and ORG treatments) in October 2017 and incorporated in May 2018 prior to planting strawberries. Dormant \"Jewel\" strawberries were planted on 14 May 2018. Rows were 1.2 m on center with plants set 0.45 m apart. The two center rows of each plot served as data rows, and the outer rows served as shared treatment borders with adjacent treatments. LOC+ and CON+ treatments received applications of herbicides at standard rates (terbacial at 92 g ha\({}^{-1}\)) at monthly intervals during the growing season, napropamide (8 kg ha\({}^{-1}\)) post-plant and in the fall, and fungicides (captan at 92g ha\({}^{-1}\)) at recommended rates [27]. Other LOC and CON plots were treated only with napropamide post-planting at the same rate as (+) treatments. ORG+ received a pre-plant root dip (MycoGold(r) 1% for 1.5 h, Amelia, OH) and monthly applications of Groveentia foliar microbial biostimulant (Yeti(r) at a rate of 2.65 mL L\({}^{-1}\), Fort Collins, CO, USA) applied to runoff during the growing season. For CON and ORG treatments, straw much was applied between rows after establishment, and annually over top of rows prior to winter for cold temperature protection. Straw much and cover crop were withheld from all LOC treatments so floating row cover was used for winter protection. LOC treatments were temporarily multiched with black plastic between rows for 3 weeks during the fruiting period to keep berries clean. These treatments created a range of N, organic matter, and crop microbial supplementation involving either conventional or organic products (Table 1). Insecticides were not used in this study. Strawberry harvest from field plots occurred on 19, 26, 28 June, and 2 and 10 July 2019, and 17 and 23 June 2020 after almost 2-3 years under the various treatments. In 2020, several unusual late frosts in May during flowering diminished early yield potential and reduced the number of harvests. Fruit samples were collected from 1-m sections in each of two rows near the center of each plot, representing 27-31 plants. Border rows were excluded from harvest. Cumulative yield, percent marketable fruit, and average individual fruit weight were recorded for each plot. Individual fruits were categorized as unmarketable if they had sun damage, malformation of the fruit tip, holes from bird pecks or insects, soft spots indicative of early fungal infection, mold, fruit size smaller than 5 g, or irregularly shaped fruit. Fruit within central rows but outside of the internally-markeddata plot were analyzed for firmness after harvest on 23 June, 30 June, and 9 July, with materials and methods as indicated by [PERSON] et al. (2008) [PERSON] et al. (2008). Leaf samples were collected from center rows on 7 Sept 2019.