Impact of irrigation and mulching on yield, water use efficiency and nutrient uptake of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under polyhouse conditions

Abstract

Investigation was taken up to assess the combined effects of drip irrigation and mulches on yield, water-use efficiency and nutrient uptake in cucumber. The treatments of the study comprised of different combinations of three drip irrigation levels (100, 80 and 60% of crop water requirement) and three mulches (white polyethylene sheet, black polyethylene sheet and no mulch). The yield of cucumber increased with the increasing amount of irrigation water in mulched treatment. Highest yield per plot (72.18 kg), yield per 1000 Sq. mt. (11.32 t) and yield per hectare (110.90 t ha-1) was observed in the treatment consisting of 100% crop ET with white plastic mulch. The water use efficiency was highest in treatment consisting of drip irrigation at 60% crop ET with white plastic mulch (10.70 t ha-1cm-1). The nitrogen (48.12 kg ha-1), phosphorus (10.36 kg ha-1) and potassium (52.21 kg ha-1) uptake was highest in treatment consisting of 100% crop ET with white plastic mulch. The study reveals that drip irrigation with mulch has an explicit role in increasing the yield and water productivity in cucumber.