Effect of Optimal Daily Fertigation on Migration of Water and Salt in Soil, Root Growth and Fruit Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Solar-Greenhouse

Abstract

Inappropriate and excessive irrigation and fertilization have led to the predominant decline of crop yields, and water and fertilizer use efficiency in intensive vegetable production systems in China. For many vegetables, fertigation can be applied daily according to the actual water and nutrient requirement of crops. A greenhouse study was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of daily fertigation on migration of water and salt in soil, and root growth and fruit yield of cucumber. The treatments included conventional interval fertigation, optimal interval fertigation and optimal daily fertigation. Generally, although soil under the treatment optimal interval fertigation received much lower fertilizers than soil under conventional interval fertigation, the treatment optimal interval fertigation did not statistically decrease the economic yield and fruit nutrition quality of cucumber when compare to conventional interval fertigation. In addition, the treatment optimal interval fertigation effectively avoided inorganic nitrogen accumulation in soil and significantly (P<0.05) increased the partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen by 88% and 209% in the early-spring and autumn-winter seasons, respectively, when compared to conventional interval fertigation. Although soils under the treatments optimal interval fertigation and optimal daily fertigation received the same amount of fertilizers, the treatment optimal daily fertigation maintained the relatively stable water, electrical conductivity and mineral nitrogen levels in surface soils, promoted fine root (<1.5 mm diameter) growth of cucumber, and eventually increased cucumber economic yield by 6.2% and 8.3% and partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen by 55% and 75% in the early-spring and autumn-winter seasons, respectively, when compared to the treatment optimal interval fertigation. These results suggested that optimal daily fertigation is a beneficial practice for improving crop yield and the water and fertilizers use efficiency in solar greenhouse.

Effect of Cow Urine and Bio-Fertilizers based Fertigation Schedule at Varying Levels of Drip Irrigation on Yield, Growth, Quality Parameters and Economics of Cucumber under Protected Condition

“…Chand (2014) also reported that increasing fertigation levels showed almost equal yield. Similar results are reported by Abdrabbo et al, (2005); Guler et al, (2006); Amer et al, (2009);Kapoor et al, (2013);Feleafel et al, (2014); Liang et al, (2014) and Tekale et al, (2014). The yield in all the treatments was higher as compared to farmers' practice (4.47 kg m -2 ).…”

Growth and production of a Japanese cucumber crop under pulse irrigation

“…The reduction of the water depletion period in the soil is beneficial for the development of the crop (Araújo et al, 2012). Further to this, daily irrigation maintains relatively stable soil moisture, which results in an increase in the emission of fine roots and cucumber crop growth (Liang et al, 2014). However, it would be more suitable to analyse the benefits of maintaining the moisture levels while taking into account the times of greatest transpiration demand.…”

Hoagland nutrient solution promotes the growth of cucumber seedlings under light-emitting diode light

“…The root absorption can be regulated by adjusting the volume and nutrient composition of the feed (Ho & Adams 1994). Conversely, the 78 H. Li and Z. Cheng assimilation and accumulation of nutrients provide material basis for root growth and vitality (Liang et al 2014). It was confirmed that the restricted root growth may impose negative effect on carbohydrate metabolism and whole growth of cucumber (Robbins & Pharr 1988).…”