Studies on the organic cultivation techniques of Cucumber ‘Shia Di’ (Cucumis sativus L.) in Soilless Culture

• Main Authors: Yun-Sheng Hsu, 許韻聲
• Other Authors: 李文汕
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/99958700954919005718

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 園藝學系所 === 99 === This research studies on the feasibility of added oil-palm ash as potash in medium, and investigating to physical and chemical characteristics of four organic medium (peat moss, coconut coir, rice hull and saw dust) for mixing media on cucumber cultivation. In addition, research studies on the influence between oil-palm ash and potassium humate as potash of liquid organic nutrition to growth and yield of organic cucumber ‘Sia Di’ (cucumis sativus L.) in soilless culture. Adding 0, 5, 10 and 15 g/L of 1.4-mm oil-palm ash to the media by maintain wetness incubation. The results showed that medium added oil-palm ash have high pH value, and, the pH value maintained between 6.8 and 7.34 at sixtieth day. In addition, The initial EC value was more than 4 ms/cm, and exchange K content of medium was too high that may resulted antagonism. Therefore, excluding form the feasibility of added oil-palm ash as potash in medium. Surveying physical and chemical characteristics of four organic medium, the MⅣmedia formulation (composed of peat moss: rice hull: coconut coir = 40: 15: 45) in the particle size analysis is similar to M0 media formulation, and because a higher proportion of coconut coir with better water retention, and the easily available water up to 36.28%. Physical analysis, MⅣ media formulation has high bulk density, total porosity and the container capacity, and the Air-filled porosity is in the ideal range (20-30%). Chemical analysis, MⅣ media formulation has higher pH values than other formulations of media. Element analysis, MⅣ media formulation has a number of nutrient content than other media formulations, such as potassium, magnesium, iron and copper. Adding 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/L of 1.4-mm dolomite , bone meal 0.5 g/L and phosphate 0.5 g/L to the media by maintain wetness incubation. The result showed that within 8 to 16 days, the pH of the medium was steady and balanced. In addition, within the sixty-four-day cultivation period, the pH of the MⅣ media formulation containing 2 g/L dolomite maintained between 5.99 and 6.50, and the EC did not exceed 4 ms/cm, which is considered an appropriate environment for cucumbers to grow. As a result, the MⅣ media formulation with added 2 g/L of 1.4-mm dolomite could provide cucumbers the proper pH and stable sources of calcium and magnesium for development. Based on Experiment Three’s organic medium, which containing 2 g/L dolomite, bone meal 0.5 g/L and phosphate 0.5 g/L, Experiment Four compared the cucumber development of nutrition (with set the concentration of 200 ppm of nitrogen and potassium in two different concentrations were 300 and 400ppm) to that organic substance consisted with amino acid and oil-palm ash and potassium humate. Using organic nutrition culture cucumber, during the cultivation period, all of the media EC value increased, while all of the media pH value decreased slowly with increased the number of days. At seventieth day, the pH value of the organic nutrition treatment of A and C decreased to between 5.27 and 5.28, while the pH value of the organic nutrition treatment of B and D maintained at ideal range . Although the medium turned slightly acidic, it had no harmful effects on cucumber growth. Fertility traits analysis, the height of plant was between 256.8 and 280.5 cm, the leaf number per plant was between 26.7 and 28.7, the fresh weight per plant was between 386.4 and 449.4 g, the dry weight per plant was between 34.29 and 46.48 g, and the leaf area was between 6868 and 7867 cm2. Results showed no significant difference among the treatments, but the organic nutrition B treatment in the before-medium period, the vegetative growth rate faster than the other treatments. Element analysis, the exchange potassium content of the organic nutrition A treatment was significantly low than other treatments, and the organic nutrition B treatment in the before-medium period has higher exchange K content than others, but the organic nutrition treatment of C and D in the later period was still to maintain the higher of exchange K content. To 56 days after planting, the leaf element content of at the organic nutrition B treatment remains in Mills and Jones (1996) suggested a reasonable range, only the lack of copper content, but does not affect fertility. Surveyed fruit yield and quality, the results showed that the organic nutrition B treatment with oil-palm ash as a potassium source has better hardness and brittleness on fruit, but the organic nutrition treatment of C and D with the half of oil-palm ash and potassium humate have better performance on fruit circumference, the number of fruits, the number of female flowers, the fruit set rate, fruit sellable rate, yield, dry fruit weight, sugar and carbohydrates . In addition, the potassium concentration of 300ppm of organic nutrition C treatment has better than the potassium concentration of 300ppm of organic nutrition D treatment on the fruit length, fruit weeks, the number of results, the number of female flowers, the fruit set, fruit sellable rate and yield. The result showed that the organic nutrition with nitrogen and potassium ratio of 1:1.5 and half of oil-palm ash and potassium humate has better performance on cucumber cultivation.