Growth Response of Cucumber to Hydrophilic Polymer Application Under Different Soil Moisture Levels

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of hydrophilic polymer addition on the growth of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., cv. Dina) was investigated under different levels of soil moisture. The plants were grown in pots filled with 7 kg of moderately calcareous loam soil. The soil was mixed with five concentrations of hydrophilic polymer Broad Leaf (P-4). These concentrations were 0.0% (control), 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4% on a dry-weight basis. Three levels of soil moisture, namely, 25, 50, and 75% of field capacity of untreated soil (control), were used in this study. The results showed a significant increase in the vegetative growth with increasing polymer concentration up to 0.3%. Further increase to 0.4% of P-4 had no significant effect on plant growth. A significant interaction was observed between polymer concentration and soil moisture level. Growing plants under 50% of field capacity with 0.2% polymer concentration resulted in more vegetative growth than did other treatments. Addition of hydrophilic polymers was most effe...