LEVEL OF SOME NUTRIENTS IN PEAT GROWING BOARD WITH CUCUMBER DURING ONE GROWING SEASON

The frequencies of the total contents of some nutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, B, Ca, Mg, K, P, S) and the changes of the pH and conductivity values in the substrate and in the leaves of cucumbers were followed up on a commercial cucumber nursery during one growing season.

The substrate used was a basic dressed grow board VPS-453, made of Sphagnum peat by Vapo, Finland.
The basic dressing consisted of 1,8 kg of compound fertilizer and of 8 kg lime per cubic meter of loose peat.
Plant density was 1,7 plants/m², which equals to 3 plants in each bag.
Greenhouse area was 3200 m².

The additional fertilizing during the growing season was carried out by the farmer according to the common VPS-453 fertilizing instructions.

It was found out that the micronutrient contents in the substrate and in the leaves remained principally almost unchanged despite of the poor additional micronutrient fertilization.
It also appears from the results that a change in the pH value of the substrate caused changes in the contents of the easily hydrolyzing micronutrients in the leaves.

The measurements of pH and conductivity values give the grower daily information to adjust the basic fertilizing program.
The micronutrient contents in the substrate after one growing season are still high enough for the second use of the growboard.
During this study a cucumber yield of 46 kg/m² was obtained.

International Symposium on Substrates in Horticulture other than Soils In Situ

J. Tummavuori, M. Herranen, O. Reinikainen

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.150.38