Effect of Some Fertilizer Types on Growth, Yield and Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Unde r Cooled Plastic Tunnels Conditions

Abstract

The study was carried out thru 7 July - 1 October of 2015 in a cooled plastic tunnel (29ºc Temperature and 85%, Relative humidity) at Al Bagair area, in the northern part of Al Gazera State, Sudan, to study the effect of organic (Elkhierat), bio-fertilizer (Elixir) and chemical (NPK) and some micronutrients ( Fe, Zn and B at 200, and 100 ppm, respectively) fertilizers and their combinations on growth, yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) variety (Faten). The treatments were Elkhierat 1kg/m2) or NPK (12g/m2) alone and their combinations with Elixir (1kg + 12mL/m2) or micro-nutrients (1kg + 12g/m2). Elkhierat was incorporated in the soil before sowing. Other fertilizers (NPK and micro-nutrients) were dissolved in water (1g/Liter) in addition to Elixir (1ml/Liter) and added to the plants accordingly to the varied treatments weekly. Magnesium sulphate (2kg) and calcium nitrate (2kg) each huose were added at the third week. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design [RCBD] with four replications. The growth parameters recorded were plant height, number of leaves and flowers per plant, whereas, the yield and fruit quality parameters recorded were number of fruits per plant. yield per plant, fruit weight, early and total yield per plant and per unit area in addition to fruit length and diameter for quality. The results showed that the highest significant values of both shoot growth and yield were obtained with the organic (Elkhierat) or NPK and elixir (281.8, 270.5cm) and (13.6, 13.3kg/m2, respectively) or micro- nutrients (211.5cm) and (13.5kg/m2) combinations. The lowest values of both were obtained with NPK or Elkhierat alone (187.8, 161.3cm) and (10.6kg/m2) no significant effects of fertilizer between combinations of (Elkhierat) and NPK with elixir or micro- nutrients (15.3cm) and (3.3, 3.2cm) on fruit quality were noticed, while the lowest values of both obtained with NPK or Elkhierat) alone (14.1, 14.2cm) and (2.8cm). It could be concluded that for the highest cucumber growth and yield under cooled conditions (evaporative cooling system) could be obtained with NPK or organic with bio-fertilizer or micro-nutrients combinations. Organic and micro-nutrients or bio-fertilizer combinations, however, could be recommended for optimum organic cucumber production under cooled plastic tunnels of Alghazira and Khartoum States. Further studies would be required to find the optimum fertilizer rate and time of application.