Effect of Organic Fertilizer Source and Rate on Growth and Nutrient Leachate Profile of Greenhouse-grown Cucumber

Abstract

<jats:p>Fertility management of seedlings and transplants is considered a key challenge in organic greenhouse production. This study was conducted to determine response of greenhouse-grown cucumber (<jats:italic>Cucumis sativus</jats:italic>) and nutrient release profile to two organic fertilizers and their combinations applied at three different concentrations in organic substrate. The organic fertilizers used were a turkey litter–based compost (TC) and a dairy manure vermicompost (VC). In addition, two control treatments [no fertilization (CK), conventional liquid fertilizer (CF)] were included. For TC, substrate leachate pH decreased for the first 17 days after addition and then increased, whereas electrical conductivity (EC), and calcium (Ca) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO<jats:sub>3</jats:sub><jats:sup>−</jats:sup>-N) concentrations increased and then declined. For VC, EC decreased continuously over time from days 0 to 52, whereas pH increased. The Ca and NO<jats:sub>3</jats:sub><jats:sup>−</jats:sup>-N concentrations decreased over time to 24 days and then did not change further. For TC/VC combinations, EC was stable for the first 17 days and then declined. For all organic fertilizer applications, potassium concentration was stable for the first 17 days and then decreased, whereas most of the sodium, ammonium-nitrogen, and chloride were no longer leached by 24 days. The VC and TC/VC combinations did not affect cucumber seed germination rate, seedling survival rate, seedling height, and leaf greenness (SPAD) as compared with CF. The stem length, leaf number, dry weight (DW), root index, and SPAD readings of cucumber transplants increased with increasing TC and VC fertilizer applications. The TC/VC combinations increased the biomass of cucumber transplants compared with CK, and did not differ from CF. The results of this study indicated that the 28.32 lb/yard<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> of VC (high rate) or the 9.44 lb/yard<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> of VC combined with 4 lb/yard<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> of TC (medium rate) can be substituted for CF for the cultivation of cucumber seedlings. Based on DW, the 12 lb/yard<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> of TC (high rate) or the 4 lb/yard<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> of TC combined with 9.44 lb/yard<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> of VC (medium rate) fertilizers were suitable replacements for CF for the cultivation of cucumber transplants.</jats:p>

Exploring the Plant Growth-Promotion of Four Streptomyces Strains from Rhizosphere Soil to Enhance Cucumber Growth and Yield

“…Various reports have demonstrated a significant increment in the vegetative growth traits when investigating the effect of organic and biofertilizers on the growth and development of different crops [ 23 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ]. In the present study, the results revealed that treatments T4 (rock phosphate (RP) + strain HM3) indicated the highest and most positive significant values for plant height, number of leaves per plant, and root length ( Table 1 ).…”

Nutrient Properties of Tithonia-enriched Liquid Organic Fertilizer as Affected by Different Types of Animal Feces and Its Effects on Fresh Weight of Loose-leaf Lettuce (Lactuva sativa L.)

“…Besides, buffalo dung was also used as compost fertilizer [11]. The use of dairy-based vermicompost had been reported to increase the growth of greenhouse cucumber [12] and potato [13]. Chicken manure has been widely reported to increase the yield of several vegetables, such as sweet corn [14], komatsuna [15], and kale [16].…”

Challenges and opportunities for consumers and producers in Central Iowa local food systems

“…Producers of organic tomato transplants, in particular, need to have reliable protocols for culturing robust and consistent transplant material for a variety of potential grower situations (Peet et al, 2008). However, fertility requirements and fertilization protocols for consistent production of high-quality organic transplants have not yet been determined (Li and Mattson, 2019).…”

“…Transplant production is likely to become more important as demand for locally grown food increases, since it could enable small and mid-size farms to produce and harvest more uniform produce (Dufault, 1998). However, both supply and quality of transplants may be inadequate to support expansion of local production (e.g., Diaz-Perez et al 2008), and questions remain about fertility requirements to produce the best-quality seedlings and transplants (Li and Mattson, 2019). This uncertainty is especially true for organic transplants (Nair et al, 2011).…”

“…However, questions remain about the most efficient application methods for these amendments and the rate at which each is most effective (for robust plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll and nutrient content, and root and shoot development). Several studies have assessed effects of organic fertilizer additions but fewer have specifically examined potential differences between dry amendments (e.g., bone and blood meal) added to substrate media and liquid amendments applied to plant tissue (such as fish emulsion) for tomato transplants in a greenhouse setting (Duan et al, 2019;Li and Mattson, 2019;Mikkelsen and Hartz, 2008;Shaik et al, 2022;Solis-Toapanta et al, 2020;Yoder and Davis, 2020). In this study we compared four amendments to better understand the effects of different fertilizers applied at different rates.…”