ISHS Acta Horticulturae 287: II International Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Vegetables in Mild Winter Climates
GROWING EARLY CUCUMBERS ON A FEW ECOLOGICALLY SOUND SUBSTRATES |
| Authors: | F. Benoit, N. Ceustermans |
| Abstract:
The results of a cucumber harvest over a period from 28/2 to 19/5/1989 are compared. Three types of substrates were compared with each other: recycled polyurethane mats (PUR-AGGROFOAM) (treated with steam or not), felted poplar fibreboards (UNALIT), and perlite mats (DICAMAT). The steam-treated PUR and the UNALIT mats yielded better results than the non-treated PUR and the perlite mats. This led to the hypothesis that the applied rate of trickling of 6 x 23.5 ml/H/plant at a dayly rate of 3 1/plant may have met the transpiration needs of the cucumber plants on the steam-treated PUR and the UNALIT mats during the growing period concerned, whereas the roots in the other substrates are likely to have suffered from intermittent stress periods. Consequently the frequency and the duration of the drippings must be set in a way that the roots are steadily provided with the necessary moisture, nutrient elements and oxygen and that the stress amplitudes are reduced to a minimum. Indeed, an inadequate dripping rate may cause a certain oversupply of water during the trickling, as well as drought stress in between two drippings. | |
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