A study was conducted during 2007-08 to study the effect of growing media and fertigation levels on the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production and its quality when grown in the low-cost plastic greenhouse. The whole experiment was arranged over 9 treatments consisting of 3 growing media M 0 (soil), M 1 (soil:farmyard manure:sand) and M 2 (soil:vermicompost:sand) in the ratio of 2:1:1 and 3 fertigation levels [F 1 (100 kg NPK/ha), F 2 (200 kg NPK/ha), F 3 (300 kg NPK/ha)]. Interaction effects of growing media and fertigation levels showed significant effect for most of the characters except days to marketable maturity and fruit weight. It is revealed that growing media M 2 comprising soil:vermocompost:sand (2:1:1) along with fertigation level F 3 @ 300 kg NPK/ha is highly suitable for growing cucumber in naturally ventilated polyhouse in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh for off-season production during August-December and February-June. The results indicated an increased yield of 8.33 kg/plant and 16.66 kg m 2 with superior quality in the treatment comprising soil: vermicompost: sand (2:1:1) as growing media and fertigation with 300 kg NPK/ha.
Publish Year: 2009
