Effect of nutrition and pruning methods on productivity and quality of cucumber hybrids in greenhouse

Abstract EN

Two experiments were carried out on cucumber (Cucumis sativus.

L) under greenhouses conditions at Kaha Research Farm, Hort.

Res.

Inst., ARC, Egypt during successive spring seasons of 2014 and 2015 to compare the effect of NPK fertigation rates and some pruning types on the fruit quality, yield, and minerals contents of some cucumber hybrids grown under plastic greenhouse conditions.

The investigation consisted of three fertilization levels i.e.

75%, 100% and 125% from the recommended dose of NPK fertilizers, two pruning methods (one shoot and two shoots/plant) and two cucumber F1 hybrids i.e.

Sina 1 and Sina 2 were used.

The results indicated that cultivar Sina 2was the best comparing with the Sina1 concerning yield and fruit characteristics, fruit mineral contents (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), ascorbic acid and total sugars.

Similar results were obtained by using pruning plants on one branch per plant.

Using 125% from the recommended doses of NPK fertilizers gave the highest values of yield and different fruit characteristics, fruit mineral contents (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), ascorbic acid and total sugars content compared with the other treatments.

The highest values for fruit characteristics N,P,K, TSS, and V.C content in cucumber fruits were obtained from the interaction treatment between cv.

Sina1, pruning the plant on one branch and fertilizing with 125% from the recommended dose of NPK fertilization level.