Articles
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL ASPECTS OF CUCUMBER CROP DENSITY
Planting dates were varied from January to July to analyse the action and interaction of plant density, radiation and temperature.
Increase of plant density enhanced initial leaf growth.
Significant differences of Leaf Area Index were found until fruit growth started.
Corresponding to this result significant differences of yield were obtained only within early yields.
The magnitude of these values was determined by the climatic conditions of the season.
The greatest effect of high plant density was recorded for high radiation conditions in the summer.
The effect of plant density on yield – averaged over the season and the length of the picking period – was described by the MITSCHERLICH function: y = A . (1 – 10-cx). Increase of yield is rather high up to 3 plants per m2. Further increase is slow, with 5 plants per m2 the highest potential of yield seems to be attained.
The economy of plant density was described by valuating the yields on one hand and the cost of transplants on the other hand.
Influence of different prices of the transplants, the season and the length of the picking period are taken into account.
From an economical point of view about 2 plants per m2 are recommended.