Effects of different dosages and frequencies of fertigation on growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in soilless culture

Abstract

Crop yield of cucumber cultivated by soilless culture technique is most likely affected by growing media and fertigation-frequency. Growing media and fertigation-frequency have become important factors affecting crop yields in the technique of soilless culture in general and cucumber in particular. The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate dosages and frequencies of fertigation for growth, development and yield of cucumber grown in the soilless culture under plastic house conditions in Ho Chi Minh City. The experiment was conducted in strip-plot design with three replicates; the vertical factor (A) including three different dosages of nutrient solution was applied variously based on plant growth stages (A1: combination of 226, 280 and 236 mL/plant/ day applied in three different periods from 0 to 3, 3 to 5 and after 5 weeks of planting, respectively; A2: 339, 420 and 359 mL/plant/day; and A3: 452, 560 and 472 mL/plant/day). The horizontal factor (B) was four different fertigation frequencies of 2, 3, 4 and 5 times/day. The results showed that cucumber fertigated with the nutrient solution having concentration of 452 mL/plant/day (from 0 to 3 weeks), 560 mL/plant (from 3 to 5 weeks) and 472 mL/plant (after 5 weeks) in combination with the fertigation frequency of 5 times/day had the best plant height (333.5 cm), number of leaves per plant (40.9 leaves/plant), the highest absolute yield (12.65 kg/m2), and commercial yield 12.52 kg/m2, and this fertigation regime also resulted in the highest profit (64,275,400 VND/1000 m2) and return on investment (1.07).