Evaluation of different soilless media on growth, quality, and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

This experiment was conducted during spring growing season of 2018 at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) campus in northern Jordan 32.4950° N, 35.9912° E. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different soilless media such as T: Tuff 100%; TP: Tuff + Perlite 50% each; TPS: Tuff + Perlite + Sawdust 33% each; and TS: Tuff + Sawdust 50% each on some of morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics related to the quality and quantity of seedless and baby cucumber cultivars. The experimental design was split plot with factorial arrangements and four replications. The measurements related to plant morphology: height, shoot and root length, shoot root fresh and dry weight, number of leaves and flowers, fruit quality: total yield, weight, diameter, hardness, length and numbers per plant. Fruit total soluble solids, the potential of hydrogen pH and electrical conductivity EC of fruit juice, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content and fruit water content, fruit and shoot biochemical content minerals, organic matters, fats, fibers, and proteins were also measured. The results indicated significant differences in both cucumber cultivars with respect to all parameters studied. Finally, this study concluded that using TS media for seedless cultivar is the best successful growing soilless media as well as the cheapest compared to other solid media used. On the other hand, using TP media for baby cultivar was the superior growing soilless media that was not expensive compared to other universal media. In addition, the TPS media showed minimum growth and low yield in both cucumber cultivars.