Articles
Increasing cucumber yield and ensuring fruit quality by combining the elevated atmospheric [CO2] and soil temperature in the greenhouse
Article number
1391_19
Pages
139 – 146
Language
English
Abstract
Atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and soil temperature (ST) are two key factors affecting the growth of greenhouse vegetables in winter.
A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of elevated [CO2] and ST on the cucumber yield, fruit quality, and mineral nutrient concentrations in fruits in four open-top chambers (OTCs). Ambient [CO2] (C1, ~420 µmol mol‑1) was set in two OTCs, and the elevated [CO2] (C2, set at 1200 µmol mol‑1) in the other two.
Two ST treated boxes were used in each OTC: ambient ST (T1, ~15.5°C) in one box and elevated ST (T2, set at 20.0°C) in the other.
Elevated [CO2] (C2T1) or elevated ST (C1T2) increased the fruits fresh weight by 136% or 243%, respectively, whereas the combination of elevated [CO2] and ST (C2T2) further increased it by 280%, compared with the C1T1 treatment.
Elevated [CO2] under ambient ST (C2T1) reduced the fruits crude protein and fiber concentrations by 6.66 and 10.1% and decreased the fruits nitrogen, potassium, and iron concentrations by 6.82, 5.13, and 16.4%, respectively.
However, elevated [CO2] and ST (C2T2) had no significant effect on the fruits total soluble sugar and starch concentrations compared with C1T1 treatment while maintaining the concentrations of crude protein and crude fiber.
In addition, the combination of elevated [CO2] and ST (C2T2) ensured the absorption of mineral nutrients by cucumber plants and increased the phosphorus concentration of the fruits by 17.2% compared to the C1T1 treatment.
These results indicated that elevated ST with elevated [CO2] could promote the cucumber yield and maintain the fruits quality and mineral nutrient concentrations, thus guaranteeing healthy and nutritionally balanced fruits under greenhouse conditions.
A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of elevated [CO2] and ST on the cucumber yield, fruit quality, and mineral nutrient concentrations in fruits in four open-top chambers (OTCs). Ambient [CO2] (C1, ~420 µmol mol‑1) was set in two OTCs, and the elevated [CO2] (C2, set at 1200 µmol mol‑1) in the other two.
Two ST treated boxes were used in each OTC: ambient ST (T1, ~15.5°C) in one box and elevated ST (T2, set at 20.0°C) in the other.
Elevated [CO2] (C2T1) or elevated ST (C1T2) increased the fruits fresh weight by 136% or 243%, respectively, whereas the combination of elevated [CO2] and ST (C2T2) further increased it by 280%, compared with the C1T1 treatment.
Elevated [CO2] under ambient ST (C2T1) reduced the fruits crude protein and fiber concentrations by 6.66 and 10.1% and decreased the fruits nitrogen, potassium, and iron concentrations by 6.82, 5.13, and 16.4%, respectively.
However, elevated [CO2] and ST (C2T2) had no significant effect on the fruits total soluble sugar and starch concentrations compared with C1T1 treatment while maintaining the concentrations of crude protein and crude fiber.
In addition, the combination of elevated [CO2] and ST (C2T2) ensured the absorption of mineral nutrients by cucumber plants and increased the phosphorus concentration of the fruits by 17.2% compared to the C1T1 treatment.
These results indicated that elevated ST with elevated [CO2] could promote the cucumber yield and maintain the fruits quality and mineral nutrient concentrations, thus guaranteeing healthy and nutritionally balanced fruits under greenhouse conditions.
Authors
Di Li, Ziying Wang, N.S. Gruda, Jinlong Dong, Xun Li, Zengqiang Duan
Keywords
Cucumis sativus, soluble sugar, starch, mineral nutrient, crude protein, crude fiber
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