COMPARISON OF SUBSTRATES, INCLUDING FRACTIONED PEAT, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GREENHOUSE CUCUMBERS

Over two seasons, fractioned moss peat was compared with peat nuggets and rockwool for the production of greenhouse cucumbers.
In the second year, polyurethane foam and pumice were included in the experiment.
All treatments were given the same nutrient solution and the amount was determined by estimating the crop evaporation from measurements of solar radiation and vapour pressure deficit in the greenhouse.
In general, yield differences between the substrates were small with a slight advantage in favour of those media with a larger water holding capacity i.e. moss peat and rockwool.

Analysis of leaf material and leachate from the substrates indicated that the major difference between the peat substrates and inert materials was the capacity of the peats to absorb Cu resulting in lower Cu levels in the plants growing on peat.
However, the level of Cu used in the solution (0.2 mg/1) was sufficient to prevent symptoms of Cu deficiency appearing.

The results indicate that fractioned moss peat and rockwool give similar results while more freely draining materials tended to produce lower yields under the irrigation regime used.

International Symposium on Growing Media & Plant Nutrition in Horticulture

M.J. Maher, M. Prasad

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.401.27