EFFECT OF SOIL COVERAGE WITH ORGANIC MULCHING AND SPRAYING WITH SEAWEED EXTRACT ON SOME VEGETATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF CUCUMBER GROWN IN GREENHOUSES

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of soil coverage with organic mulching and spraying with seaweed extract in some vegetative and productive characteristics of Cucumber planted under plastic houses. The study was included two factors: the first factor was organic soil coverings which divided into Control: without coverage (M0), Coverage of wheat straw (M1), Coverage of Sawdust (M2) and Coverage of Corn cobs (M3) while the second factor was represented by three concentrations of seaweed extract (0, 1, 2 ) g.L-1 (F0, F1, F2 respectively). The experiment was Randomized Complete Block Design RCBD with three replicates as a factorial experiment (4 x 3). The experiment included 12 treatments and 36 units, each unit includes 8 plants. The obtained results were analyzed by SAS program and the averages were compared by the Duncan Multipliers test at a probability level of 5%. The present results showed that the Soil coverings with wheat straw (M1) recorded a significant increase in plant length, number of leaves, relative chlorophyll quantity, number of fruits, fruit weight, plant yield and total yield with mean values195.60 cm/plant-1,47.89leaf/plant-1, 41.19 SPAD,29.00 fruit,80.20g/fruit-1, 2.320 g/plant-1,3.897 kg/plant-1 respectively. While the seaweed extract had a significant effect in most studied traits, spraying at (1 g/L-1 ) F1 gave the highest rate of plant length, number of leaves, fruit weight, and total soluble solids content (T.S.S) was197.10 cm/plant-1. 48.08 leaf/plant-1. 71.30 g/fruit-1, 3.300% respectively, the concentration of spray (2 g/ L-1) F2 exceeded the number of fruits, plant yield, and total yield. Additionally, the interaction between spraying with a concentration of seaweed extract (1 g/ L-1) F1 and soil cover with wheat straw (M1) significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, and relative amount of chlorophyll and fruit weight.