ISHS Acta Horticulturae 659: VII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Production, Pest Management and Global Competition
GROWTH AND NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L.) PLANTS GROWN IN A CLOSED SOILLESS SYSTEM |
| Authors: | P. Santamaria, V. Valenzano, F. Serio, A. Elia |
| Keywords: | Cucumber; Mineral composition; Analysis of growth; N, P, K, Ca and Mg uptake |
| Abstract:
Growth and mineral composition (contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) of cucumber plants (‘Mezzo lungo di Polignano’ (MLP), a landrace much appreciated by consumers in the South of Italy, and ‘Tanner’, a hybrid cultivar) in different phenological stages were evaluated. The two genotypes were compared in a closed soilless system. The landrace was not competitive compared to the hybrid, in terms of the productivity of the plant. ‘Tanner’ had a greater content of dry mass in the tissues of all the organs and of Ca in the leaves. ‘MLP’ contained more K than ‘Tanner’. The time trends for the N, P and K uptake were similar. However, the two genotypes, because of their different types of frutification, had different distribution of individual elements in the various organs. The overall uptake relative to the whole cycle for N:P:K:Ca:Mg were in the following ratios: 1:0.2:1.5:0.5:0.1 in ‘MLP’ and 1:0.2:1.2:0.6:0.1 in ‘Tanner’. | |
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