Influence of NaCl or CaCl2 salinity in cucumber grown in a closed hydroponic system
2003
Clavaguera Iglesias, R.
The response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var Crele) to salinity (2.2, 5 and 8 dS/m) using two different salinity sources (NaCl and CaCl2) and grown in a closed hydroponic system, using perlite as at substrate, was studied. Cucumber plants tolerated an EC value in the nutrient solution of 5 dS/m without reducing their total yield and plant yield and increasing the number of cucumbers produced, independently of the salinity source applied. However, this salinity threshold reduced cucumber size (fruit length and fruit diameter), fruit fresh weight and the number of first class cucumber fruits. Analyses of leaf, stem and root fresh weight, water content, dry weight, dry matter and dry weight (roots / (leaves + stems)) were conducted, indicating the beneficial effect of Ca2+ on cucumber plants irrigated with saline nutrient solution, improving their water and mineral uptake and decreasing the negative effects on cucumber fruits produced by an EC value in the nutrient solution above 2.2 dS/m. Cucumber fruit qualitative analyses were carried out showing that fruit firmness did not depend on the EC value in the nutrient solution. Juice acidity and fruit sugar content depended more on the salinity source than the EC value in the irrigation water. Cucumber plant was salt sensitive to different EC values, showing a different behaviour depending on the salinity source, indicating that the cucumber plant tolerated higher EC values in the irrigation water above 2.2 dS/m when this rise in salinity came from the addition of CaCh in the nutrient solution. However, an EC value in the nutrient solution above 5 dS/m caused yield losses and decreased the fruit quality, independently of the salinity source.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania