Abstract

MORENO-PEREZ, Esaú del C. et al. Effects of susbtrate volume and levels of N-P-K on the growth cucumber seedlings. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.1, pp.57-63. ISSN 2395-8030.

Obtaining quality seedlings is a very important aspect for the production process of hybrid cucumber under greenhouse conditions; therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of substrate volume and different fertilization levels with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), on vigor and N, P, K content in leaves of cucumber (cv. Saber) seedlings. Employing a factorial arrangement of treatments, four growth conditions (combinations of different sowing densities and container sizes) and four fertilization treatments under a randomized block design with three replications were assessed. The evaluated traits were: leaf area (LA), stem length (SL), stem diameter (SD), leaf dry weight (LDW), root length (RL), root volume (RV), root dry weight (RDW), and N, P, K content in leaves; all these measured 23 days after sowing. The seedlings growing in containers with larger volume (0.7 L) and lower population density (100 plants m-2) had significantly higher LA (85.59 cm2), SD (0.49 cm), LDW (9.22 g), RL (46.0 cm), RV (27.81 mL), and RDW (7.09 g), as well as higher leaf concentration of N (6.42%) and K (6.9%,) than those growing in trays with cavities of 28 mL capacity and plant densities of 1100 plants m-2. In container with 28 mL of substrate, except SL, there were no differences (P ≤ 0.05) between population densities of 1100 or 275 plants per m2 for all traits. The tested fertilization treatments does not showed differences in SD, RV, and RDW; nor in N, P, and K content in leaves.

Keywords : Cucumis sativus L.; horticulture; hydroponics; substrate.