NUTRIENT UPTAKE, GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER CULTIVATED WITH DIFFERENT GROWING SUBSTRATES UNDER A CLOSED AND AN OPEN SYSTEM

Cucumber plants were grown in a closed and an open system with different kinds of growing substrates – perlite, cocopeat, and rockwool granulate(fine: coarse=1:1) to determine difference in nutrient uptake, nutrient absorption and yield of cucumber.
There was no significant difference in growth, transpiration rate and CO₂ assimilation rate of the plants between closed and open system.
The change of pH in the drainage was less in closed system than that in open system.
It is resulted from being supplied with nutrient solution composed according to the growing stage.
The changes of EC (dSm^-1) and the K, Ca and Mg contents of the root zone were maintained in optimal levels in the closed system.
This result showed that the influx and efflux by plants were made in regular order.
The marketable yield increased in perlite and rockwool granulates under closed system.
The drainage rate decreased by more than 20% in closed system, which showed that closed systems decreased fertilizers and water wastes.
Nutrient contents of leaves and fruits were not different according to substrates and systems.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

E.Y. Choi, Y.B. Lee, J.Y. Kim

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.548.66