JAPANESE CUCUMBER CROP UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION DEPTHS IN GREENHOUSE

Abstract

Japanese cucumber shows high economic value and short growth cycle, thus it is one of the most commonly grown vegetables in protected environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation depths in yield, growth and efficiency of water use in japanese cucumber cultivated in greenhouse. The experiment was conducted during winter and spring, at the Irrigation Technical Center of the State University of Maringá, located in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Four levels of replacement of crop evapotranspiration depths were tested (50, 75, 100 and 125% ETc). A completely randomized design with four replications was adopted. Harvest was performed between 33 and 96 days after transplanting, and the fruits were harvested on alternate days. The growth of the cucumber plants was evaluated measuring height, number of nodes and stem diameter. The results indicated that there was an increased linear response in yield and growth due to application of the irrigation depths. The results also indicated that the depth of 125% ETc obtained, on average, higher yield and growth, but it did not present the highest efficiency of water use, as this was ached with the depth of 50% ETc