ISHS Acta Horticulturae 82: Symposium on Production of Protected Crops in Peat and other Media
CUCUMBER EXPERIMENTS ON MINERAL WOOL; SIZES OF MATS AND IRRIGATION FREQUENCIES |
| Authors: | G. Haupt Jörgensen, L. Ottosson |
| Abstract:
As earlier reported (Bucharest, Romania, 1976) mineral wool is a common substrate for the cultivation of vegetables crops, cucumber and tomatoes, in greenhouses in Sweden. In 1975, two different makes, Rockwool and Gullfiber, were tested with nonsignificant differences in results. Three sizes of mats 30 x 7.5 cm, 30 x 10 cm and 45 x 7.5 cm were compared. After a harvest period of 23 weeks the 30 x 10 cm mat gave a lower yield than the other sizes. The difference was 8–9%, but was not statistically significant. In 1976, three sizes 30 x 5, 30 x 7.5 and 30 x 10 cm were compared. The thin mat (30 x 5 cm) gave a smaller yield than the thicker (7–8%) one, but not statistically significant. In this experiments different irrigation frequencies were studied. The same volume of nutritional solution, 4 litres per plant and day, were given and distributed 3, 5 and 9 times a day. Nine times a day gave early yield in all sizes and the highest yield in the thinner mats. In the thicker one (30 x 10 cm), five times a day gave the same yield. There is a relationship between size of mat and frequency of irrigation for optimal yield. The size 30 x 7.5 cm and relative many irrigations per day can be recommended. | |
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