EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE ON GREENHOUSE CUCUMBER PRODUCTION IN SOILLESS CULTURE

In order to evaluate the effect of different substrates on growth, yield and quality of greenhouse cucumber cv. 'Rubah-R', two greenhouse experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Faculty of Guilan University in Rasht, Iran (37°16'N), during 2006 and 2007. Four growing media were used in 2006 including peat, perlite, rice-hull and a mixed substrate (perlite and rice-hull 50:50 v/v) and four other substrates such as peat + carbonized rice hull (50:50, v/v), peat + wood chips (50:50, v/v), peat + bark (50:50, v/v), and perlite 100%. Results of 2006 showed that substrates had a significant effect on the plant growth, total fruit yield, marketable fruits, fruit weight and number of fruits per m 2 . Furthermore, no significant differences were found between substrates in term of fruit quality parameters such as fruit length, fruit diameter and total soluble solids. Results of 2007 experiment showed that tested substrate (peat + carbonized rice hull (50:50, v/v) (T1), peat + wood chips (50:50, v/v) (T2), peat + bark (50:50, v/v) (T3), and perlite 100%) could affect the most cucumber quality components, but plant elements analysis showed a negative correlation between the different substrates especially between calcium and magnesium. It is also a positive correlation between the roots and cucumber fruits in term of nutrient uptake. The analysis showed also a positive correlation between the calcium amount in root and fruit, but no differences were found between leaves and fruits.