Soilless Cucumber Cultivation under Protective Structures in Relation to Irrigation Coupled Fertigation Management, Economic Viability and Potential Benefits-A Review

The protected cultivation of cucumber in soilless systems (substrate culture, hydroponic, aeroponic etc.) under optimal operating microclimatic conditions has become an alternative for sustainable vegetable production as a result of shifting climatic scenarios and soil related problems. The soilless cultivation in both open and closed systems with efficient utilization of water and nutrients has significantly increased the greenhouse cucumber productivity compared to conventional cultivation under both protective structures and open field conditions. A closed hydroponic system has helped in saving water and nutrients thereby increasing water and nutrient use efficiency of cucumber cultivation with no environmental pollution. Further, the year round cultivation of cucumber has become possible under protective structures making it as an economically viable technology for the growers. Here, an effort has been made to highlight the progress made in soilless or hydroponic cucumber cultivation in past in relation to irrigation coupled fertigation management, economic viability and the potential benefits. The study also describes the methods for computing the components of water and nutrient use balance in both open and closed systems.