Effects of different irrigation regimes on yield and water use efficiencyof cucumber crop

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of four irrigation regimes on yield, growth parameters and water use efficiency of cucumber crop under greenhouse cultivation. A field experiment was carried out at the experimental farm of Palestine Technical University Kadoorie, located at Tulkarm, Palestine. Cucumber seedlings were planted on 14 February 2012 in greenhouse at a rate of 1500 seedlings per 1000 square meters. Four irrigation regimes were examined during the growing period as follows: farme rirrigation (FI), tensiometer based irrigation (TI), irrigation at full ETc data (ETc), and irrigation at 70% of ETc (70% ETc). Plant data were collected during the growing period for evaluating the total yield, plant height, number of harvested fruits per plant, weight of harvested fruits per plant, dry matter of above and under ground parts.The results indicated that the 70% ETc treatment obtained the highest crop yield followed by ETc, FI,and TI treatments, respectively. On average, cucumber yield under 70% ETc treatment was 24%, 6% and 4% higher than that under TI, FI and ETc treatments, respectively. At the end of harvesting stage plant height, above-ground dry matter obtained by 70% ETc treatment was higher than the other treatments. The smallest plant height and dry matter was obtained under TI treatment. Results also indicated that, when using scheduled irrigation methods large amount of water were saved and found to be 139, 104 and 26 mm for TI, 70% ETc and ETc treatments, respectively, compared to FI treatment. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) was obtained under 70% ETc treatment followed by ETc, TI and FI treatments, respectively.