Abstract
The effects of eleven different peat-containing substrates on growth, yield and fruit quality of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) were studied in an eco-organic type soilless culture system during a 17-week greenhouse experiment. The results showed that physical characteristics of all substrates were within acceptable ranges of plant growth and development, but pH and EC values were beyond the optimal ranges when coal ash was over 25% in the mixture. The best seedling performance was obtained in the mixture of peat to coal ash 3:1 (T3), followed by 1:1 peat/coal ash (T6), 1:1:1 peat/vermiculite/coal ash (T8), and 3:1 peat/perlite (T2) treatment. Highest cucumber yield and fruit quality were obtained by the mixture of peat to vermiculite 1:1 (T4). And plants grown in 3:1 peat/vermiculite (T1), 3:1 peat/perlite (T2), 3:1 peat/coal ash (T3) had better yield than in 100% peat. The results indicate that addition of vermiculite, perlite and coal ash to peat resulted in a better seedling growth, higher yield and better quality of fruit probably owing to increasing water-holding capacity and aeration of peat, which demonstrates that inorganic substances such as vermiculite, perlite and coal ash could partially replace peat.
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