Effect of phosphorus application on mineral contents of cucumber plants grown in NFT

Abstract

The effects of increasing phosphorus levels in the nutrient solution on P, Zn and Mn concentrations and/or allocation in the different parts of the cucumber plant grown in nutrient film technique (NFT) were studied. Zinc level was held constant at 0.1 ppm while the phosphorus concentration in the nutrient solution was increased gradually using orthophorphoric acid to correct the daily changes in the pH. Increasing phosphorus concentration in the nutrient minimized the daily change in the pH and hence reducing the acid used for adjusting the pH to be in the range of 5.5 - 6.0. The nutrient solution used increased in the phosphoric acid treatment as a results of keeping the pH in the optimum range for a longer period. Increasing phosphorus concentration in the nutrient solution had no effect on P % in the leaves and stem, although the P % had increased in the roots. Zinc and manganese concentrations were increased in the leaves and stem and reduced in the roots when phosphorus concentration waas increased in the nutrient solution.