Soilless culture of cucumber in glasshouses: II. A comparison of open and closed systems on water and nutrient consumption

The research was carried out during the spring seasons of 1996 and 1997 in order to compare effect of open and closed systems with three different cucumber cultivars (Afrodit, Efes and Rawa) grown in vertical and horizontal bags on applied and drained water and nutrient quantities. The study was planned according to a split-split plot design with three replicates. Perlite was used as growing medium. Each vertical and horizontal bag contained one and two plants, respectively with a 8 liters rooting volume per plant. A complete nutrient solution was given daily via drip irrigation system. The quantity of applied and drained nutrient solution was recorded daily, while the NO3-N, NH4-N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Cl contents of the solutions were determined weekly. Results obtained indicated that closed system decreased water and nutrient consumption by about 22 % and 35 %, respectively.