Effect of Activation of Cucumber Seeds with Different Concentrations of Zinc under Different Soaking Periods on Growth and Yield Characteristics (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

This study was conducted in the greenhouses of Fallujah University - Biotechnology and Environmental Center. During planting season (2021-2022), to determine the effect of three zinc concentrations (0, 8, 16) mg L-1 and three soaking periods (6, 12, 18) hours, on the growth and yield characteristics of the cucumber (queen variety). It was implemented as a factorial experiment with randomized complete block design (RCBD) and with three replicates, the results are summed up as follows: The concentrations of 8 and 16 mg L-1 of zinc were achieved by giving the highest average plant height (127.26 cm) and (130.56 cm), leaf area (3934 cm2) and (4582 cm2) plant-1, as well as the fruit length accorded 15.46 and 15.62 cm, respectively, and the plant yield reached 1.16 and 1.74 kg plant-1, respectively. Also, the concentration of 16 mg L-1 of zinc in yield per area (m2) reached 13.91 kg m2 was superior to the concentration of 8 mg L-1 zinc (9.26) kg m2, which was superior to the control (7.85) kg m2. As for the soaking periods, the 18-hour soaking period grants the highest average of plant height, leaf area, plant yield, and yield per area (m2), reaching 131.41 cm, 4385 cm2 plant-1, 1.45 kg plant-1, and 11.55 kg m2, respectively. While the 12-hour soaking treatment gave the highest average fruit length of 15.724 cm over the 18-hour soaking treatment, and it excelled the 6-hour soaking treatment in all studied characteristics except for the fruit diameter, which was not significant for all treatments used. The binary interaction between soaking at a concentration of 16 mg L-1 of zinc with a soaking period of 18 hours gave the highest average plant height, fruit length, plant yield and yield per area (m2) accorded 143.63 cm, 15.89 cm, 1.98 kg plant-1 and 15.82 kg m2, respectively. The effect of interference was non-significant for the mean of leaf area of the plant as well as the diameter of the fruit.