Root media materials for cucumber production in closed recirculated hydroponic systems

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Rawa) was grown in hydroponics for two successive seasons under glasshouse conditions to test materials in the gullies of the nutrient film technique (NFT) system. Treatments were: date-palm fibers (Leef); dried shredded date-plam leaflets (Karena), nylon threads (NT); 3-inch- PVC pipes (pipe); rock wool (RW) and the control. The Leef and Karena treatments exceeded the control in yield (Kg/m2) and in vegetative growth in terms of plant height, leaf number, leaf area, plant fresh weight, stem thickness and number of intemodes. Root systems were best in the Karena and Leef treatments. There were no significant differences among the control, NT and Pipe treatments. Results showed the possibility of growing cucumber successfully in the NFT system, using either Karena or Leef as rooting materials in the black-on-white polyethylene gullies. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.