|
The effect of sheep-manure
vermicompost on quantitative and qualitative properties of
cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in the greenhouse
Rasool Azarmi*,
Mousa Torabi Giglou and Behzad Hajieghrari
Department of plant productions, Moghan Jounior
College of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili,
Ardabil, Iran.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ras_5242@yahoo.com.
Tel.: 098 9143520673.
Fax: 0987463418.
Accepted
26 May, 2009 |
|
This
experiment aims to evaluate the effects of vermicompost
produced from sheep manure on growth, yield and quality of 2
fruit cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) varieties (cv.
‘Sultan F1’ and cv. ‘Storm F1’) under greenhouse condition.
Four vermicompost treatments at the rate of 0 (control), 10,
20 and 30 t ha-1 were incorporated into the top
15 cm of soil. During the experiment, fruits were harvested
three times per week and fruit number and weight were
recorded for 3 months. Leaf number, plant height and
chlorophyll content were measured at 30, 60 and 90 days
after transplanting, while leaf area, stem and leaf dry
weight and fruit qualitative properties were evaluated at 90
days after transplanting. The results showed that leaf
number, plant height and chlorophyll content increased
significantly (P ≤ 0.05) compared to control plots for both
varieties at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting. The
plots treated with 30 t ha-1 vermicompost showed
increase in leaf are, stem and leaf dry weight for both
varieties. The application of vermicompost at 30 t ha-1
increased total fruit yield 26% for cv. ‘Sultan F1’ and 25%
for cv. ‘Storm F1’ compared to the control. The plots
treated with vermicompost at 30 t ha-1 enhanced
fruit number per plant 26% for cv. ‘Sultan F1’ and 25% for
cv. ‘Storm F1’ than plot without vermicompost. Fruit
harvested from plants receiving vermicompost had higher
total soluble solid (TSS), lower juice acidity and more dry
matter than plots without vermicompost. Growth and yield
parameters were improved with increasing vermicompost rates
up to 20 t ha-1. There are no significant
different between plots at 20 and 30 t ha-1
vermicompost in all evaluated parameters.
Key
words:
Vermicompost, quantitative, qualitative, greenhouse
cucumber. |
