Effect of addition of organic and inorganic combinations to soil on growing property of greenhouse cucumber

Abstract

This research was carried out using a completely randomized design with seven treatments and seven replications. The treatments were perlite‚ date palm waste, soil, perlite + soil (Pe + s, w/w= 5/95), perlite + soil (w/w = 10/90), date palm waste + soil (w/w = 5/95) and date palm waste + soil (Pa+s, w/w= 10/90). The physiochemical characteristics of substrates were measured before plant cultivation. Some growth indices were measured at the end of the growth period. The results show that the amount of cucumber yield, number of fruit, biomass weight, plant height, stem diameter of plant and leaf area index in date palm wastes were highest. The amount of fruit stiffness index in date palm wastes and perlite media were highest but the amount of fruit total soluble solids (TSS) in date palm wastes media was lowest and had significant difference with other substrates. The concentration of P, K and Ca in all substrates had no significant difference. The concentration of Mg in Pa+s (w/w=10/90) and Pe + s (w/w= 5/95) substrates had the lowest content and had significant differences as compared with other treatments. The concentration of Fe, Mn and Zn in plant leaf in perlite media was higher than for the other treatments.

Keywords: Date palm waste, perlite, substrate, greenhouse, cucumber