Abstract

AYALA-TAFOYA, Felipe et al. Plant density and stem pruning in greenhouse cucumber production. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2019, vol.10, n.1, pp.79-90. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v10i1.1211.

The density of plants or stems is a variable of agronomic management associated with the productivity of vegetables under protected conditions. The research was carried out with the objective of knowing the influence of plant density and stem pruning on plant growth and yield of cucumber fruits grown under greenhouse conditions. The design of complete blocks was used randomly in factorial arrangement, with two levels each factor: plant density (1.68 and 2.22 plants m -2) and stem pruning (one and two stems plant -1). The treatments: T1) 1.68 plants m -2 with pruning to a stem plant -1, T2) 1.68 plants m -2 with pruning to two stems plant -1, T3) 2.22 plants m -2 with pruning to a stem plant -1 and T4) 2.22 plants m -2 with pruning to two stems plant -2, were established with four repetitions. The results indicated that fresh biomass of plant stem and dry leaves plant -1 decreased with increasing plant density, but increased in plants with pruning to two stems plant -1. Stem length, dry stem biomass, plant leaves, fresh leaf plant -1 biomass and flower plant -1 production also increased with two stems plant -1, while leaf greenery decreased, but no influence on those variables by density of plants. Both factors caused a decrease in the diameter of the fruit. However, the best cucumber yields: total (112.8 t ha -1), select (22.4 t ha -1) and super select (53.6 t ha -1), were positively influenced by plant density as well as by pruning of stems.

Keywords : Cucumis sativus; fruit yield; plant growth; plants m ^-2; stems plant ^-1.

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