Physico-chemical characterization of organic substrates for cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production under a protected system

Abstract

This paper provides information on the use of organic substrates made   from cattle manure treated to cucumber production. The work performed in greenhouse conditions in 2011, at the Technological Institute of Torreón (ITT), Torreon, Coahuila. The experimental design was completely randomized; considering four treatments with four replications: vermicompost + sand (20:80 v/v); solarized manure + sand (20:80); vermicompost + solarized manure + sand (10:10:80) and a control treatment manure (Steiner solution). The substrate mixtures were formulated based on volume (v/v) using 15 kg black polyethylene bags. The genetic material was the hybrid Hisham 1110-EZ. The evaluated variables were plant height, fresh and dry weight, yield, fruit quality, leaf soluble solids and chemical analysis; substrate in the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters were also evaluated. The results indicated significant response in height, and analyzing yield of the plant tissue, as well as pH and EC. Cucumber yield was higher with the Steiner solution (9.87 kg m-2); mixing of sand + vermicompost (80:20) obtained the highest yield of organic substrates, 8.45 kg m-2. These results suggest that, the use of sand substrate with vermicompost as a means of growth and nutrition, could allow reducing traditional fertilization, which is considered an improvement in systems of organic greenhouse production.