October 2015 Vol. 3 No.9

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Mazahreh N
Mousa M

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Original Research Article

Effect of different growing Medias on Cucumber Production and Water Productivity in Soilless Culture under UAE Conditions

Naem Mazahreh^1*, Arash Nejatian¹ and Mohamed Mousa²

¹International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Area, Arabian Peninsula Regional Program, Dubai, UAE
²Minstry of Environment and Water, UAE

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: n.mazahrih@cgiar.org/a.nejatian@cgiar.org
Tel.: 917-42389513

Accepted October 13, 2015

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the best and most appropriate growing media for producing healthy, strong and homogeneous cucumber crop in greenhouse under UAE condition. A study was conducted with one cultivar of cucumber (Ziko F1) using four different growing medias in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications in UAE(Al Awair) during 2013 summer growing season. The effects of four different media based on 1:0, 1:1, and 1:2, v/v of Perlite and Coco-peat as well as cocopeat growbags were evaluated on quantity and quality of cucumber yields in soilless culture. Plants were fertilized by nutrient solution containing macro and micronutrients at EC 1.5 – 2.5 dS m^-1, pH 5.5-6.5. The results revealed that Perlite/Coco-peat (P/C) substrates 1:0 ratio (v/v) produced the highest class A yield with 87.6 ton ha^-1, while coco-peat growbag showed the lowest yield (46 ton ha-1). In terms of water productivity the results also showed that produced cucumber yields had better conditions in perlite with the highest net profit and water productivity values. In addition, the results indicated that by mixing coco-peat with perlite in 1:1 ratio, the yield significant increased by 82% compare to cocopeat growbags.

Key words: Coco-peat, Cucumber, Perlite, Soilless, Water productivity.