Response of cucumber for mulch colors and phosphorus levels under greenhous
2010
Farag, A.A. | Abdrabbo, M.A.A. | Hassanein, M.K.
Trails were carried out during the two growing seasons of 2007 and 2008 at El-Bosaily farm, Agricultural Research Center, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt. This research was conducted in an unheated greenhouse to determine the effect of different mulch colors and phosphorus fertigation on growth and yield of cucumber plant. Cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L cv. Brenjee 82) were grown in sandy soil. The plastic house constructor was covered with 200 pm local-UV-treated polyethylene sheet (PE) of 5.25 m in width. Five mulch colors were used, i. e., red, green, blue, black and transparent. Control treatment was unmulched. Three phosphorus fertigation levels 20, 40 and 60 ppm were added to soil under different colors mulch and control. Soil temperature at surface and at 15 cm depth of each mulch colors were measured. The vegetative growth, i. e., plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of plant, early and total yield were recorded. The results showed that transparent mulch gave the highest soil temperature followed by black mulch in comparison with other mulch colors. The best vegetative growth (plant height, number of leaves, total leaf area, canopy fresh and dry weight) and yield (early and total) were obtained by transparent followed by black mulch. The transparent mulch color increased N, P and K % leaves content followed by black color with significant difference between them. The phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) was greatest at the lowest dose 20 ppm of P and decreased as the P levels were increased. On the other hand, the vegetate growth and yield were in vice case with PUE. The interaction between mulch color and P gave the highest vegetative growth and yield under transparent mulch combined with 60ppm P.
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