Effect of some organic media and micronutrients on mineral contents of plastichouse cucumber

摘要

Cucumber seedlings cv. Nouvo were grown in seven growing media i.e., sand (control), farmyard manure (FYM), chicken manure (CM) and their mixtures during the two winter seasons of 1995/1996 and 1996/1997 under plastichouse conditions. Plants received basal NPK fertilization and sprayed three times during growth periods by chelated forms of zinc, manganese and boron at concentrations of 1.0 g/l, 1.0 g/l and 0.5 g/l, respectively. Results indicated that all manure-containing media significantly increased N, P and K contents in cucumber leaves and stems at flowering stage (30-40 days from transplanting) and at the end of both growing seasons (120 days from transplanting). On the other hand, the highest Zn, Mn and B contents were detected in both leaves and stems of cucumber plants grown in a mixture of FYM + CM (1:1 v/v) as compared with those grown in other media. This treatment also enhanced the contents of N, P, K, Zn, Mn and B in cucumber fruits. Meanwhile, the efficiency of nutrient uptake andaccumulation were higher at the early fruiting stage. Generally, growing cucumber plants in such organic media in combination with foliar application of essential micronutrients at proper doses and timing is recommended to increase the nutritional valueof cucumber fruits in the new reclaimed soils.