Abstract
Effect on yield, fruit characteristics and water use efficiency of cucumber of irrigation water salinity
In this study, the effects of different irrigation water salinity levels [0.3, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7, 4.7, 5.7 and 6.7 dS m-1] on yield and fruit characteristics of cucumber were evaluated. Research was laid out in randomized parcel design with six replication and 1 plant in each replication on tanks formed in greenhouse. According to the results, increasing irrigation water salinity decreased the fruit yield. The values of salinity threshold for irrigation water and soil were determined as 1.47 and 2.11 dS m-1, respectively, implying that the yield of cucumber would decrease with increasing salinity above these levels. Fruit weight, and diameter, length and water content of fruit were not affected from irrigation water salinity up to 1.7 and 2.7 dS m-1, respectively, but increasing salinity above this value decreased these fruit characteristics. Increasing salinity up to 3.7 dS m-1 improved the soluble solids content, whereas higher salinity levels decreased it. A negatively linear correlation between irrigation water salinity and evapotranspiration was observed. The highest values of both water use and irrigation water use efficiency were obtained from salinity of 0.3 and 1.7 dS m-1. The results revealed that cucumber can be grown satisfactorily usingirrigation water salinity up to 1.7 dS m-1.
Keywords
Cucumis sativus, soluble solids, water productivity, water salinity
