Abstract
Cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) were grown in soilless culture under greenhouse conditions at the Experimental farm of University of Tuscia, Central Italy to evaluate the effects of four substrates (rockwool, pumice, perlite, and coir) on growth, yield, fruit quality, and plant mineral composition. Plants grown in coir, perlite and pumice yielded more than those grown in rockwool. Similar results were obtained for dry weight of leaves, stems, and fruits. Fruit quality in term of dry matter, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, and pH was not significant affected by treatments. Concentrations of K and Na were highest in nutrient solution, and fruits of coir treatment while perlite and pumice treatments had highest Ca concentration in nutrient solution, leaves and fruits. Phosphorus and Mg were highest in nutrient solution and plant organs of coir treatment, respectively. The above findings may be explain by the different chemical and physical properties of substrates and their interaction with nutrient solution composition and plant nutrient uptake.
Published Version
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