Estimation of Dry Matter Production and Yield Prediction in Greenhouse Cucumber without Destructive Measurements

Dong-Hyuk Ahn,Kazuya Maeda

doi:10.3390/agriculture11121186

Dong-Hyuk Ahn, Kazuya Maeda

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121186

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Abstract

In this study, we aimed to estimate dry matter (DM) production and fresh fruit yield in “Fresco-dash” (FD) and “Project X” (PX) cucumber cultivars using an empirical model developed for tomatoes. First, we cultivated the two cucumber cultivars under a hydroponic system for about six months. Also, parameters related to DM production such as light use efficiency (LUE), light extinction coefficient (k), DM distribution of fruits (DMD), and fruit dry matter content (DMC) were measured via destructive measurements. The k, DMD and DMC values were 0.99 and 0.93, 46.0 and 45.2, 3.84 and 3.78 in “Fresco Dash” and “Project X”, respectively. Second, we cultivated cucumbers to estimate DM production and fruit fresh yield using the model without destructive measurement for about eight months and validated the model’s effectiveness. The predicted DM fell within the range of the observed DM ± standard error at 51 and 132 d after transplantation (DAT) in PX as well as 51 (DAT) in FD. The predicted and observed DM at 163 DAT were 2.08 and 1.82 kg m−2, 2.09 and 1.87 kg m−2 in “Fresco Dash” and “Project X”, respectively. The predicted and observed fruit yield at 200 DAT were 30.3 and 31.7, 30.5 and 29.1 in “Fresco Dash” and “Project X”, respectively, which were 4.4% lower than the observed fruit yield in FD and 4.9% higher than that in PX. These results suggest that the model applies to cucumbers in predicting dry matter production and fresh fruit yield.

Highlights

The cultivation area and yield of Japanese cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in 2020 were 10,300 ha and 548,100 t, respectively [1]
Plant growth models are tools based on scientific principles and mathematical relationships, allowing us to evaluate the different effects in plant management, environment, water supply
The Intercepted light is determined by photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), leaf area index (LAI), and light extinction coefficients in the plant canopy

Summary

Introduction

The cultivation area and yield of Japanese cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in 2020 were 10,300 ha and 548,100 t, respectively [1]. Low yields for Japanese cucumbers grown in the greenhouse and open field have been reported in the summer-autumn (3.4 kg m−2) and winter-spring (10.7 kg m−2) seasons [1]. This is significantly lower than the yield (72.8 kg m−2) reported in the Netherlands [2]. A mechanical photosynthesis-based yield prediction model for cucumbers that simulated yield and fruit size as well as improved plant management, has been reported [16]. An empirical growth model for tomatoes, improving yield by optimizing their leaf area index (LAI), has been formulated [17,18]. While the model may apply to cucumbers, no previous applications or parameters have been identified

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