Evaluating new fertilizer schedules for enhanced cultivation of salad cucumber (Cucumis sativus l.) under controlled environmental agriculture

Abstract

Controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) represents a progressive paradigm in agricultural methodologies. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a globally pervasive vegetable, underscores the paramount importance of efficient nutrient management in soilless cultivation systems. Farmers resort to diverse liquid nutrient solutions to optimize crop growth and productivity. While Albert's solution is a prevalent hydroponics fertilizer in Sri Lanka which has comparatively high cost, burgeoning interest stimulates the exploration of alternatives. The present study was conducted in a protected house at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna situated within the low country wet zone of Sri Lanka endeavors to evaluate the efficacy of innovative fertilizers from Mugasol and Densol ranges with the aim of augmenting C. sativus L. (Variety. Hanyan- CU13502) growth, fruit development and overall yield. Existing fertilizer schedule developed for C. sativus L. using Albert’s solution (control treatment- 1.5g/l/plant) was compared with two new fertilizer scheduled developed from Mugasol and Densol ranges. The experimental design consists of six replicates per treatment, employing a Completely Randomized Design, with one replicate comprising three plants for heightened precision. A comprehensive array of growth parameters, spanning plant height, leaf increment, internodal length (7th to 8th), and stem girth were measured, alongside yield parameters encompassing total yield and marketable yield. There was no significant difference among treatments for many growth parameters recorded except for stem girth measurements. Similarly, no statistically significant differences resulted in yield parameters, suggesting that the new fertilizer schedules developed utilizing Mugasol and Densol exhibit a yield profile which is not different from that of the Albert fertilizer, the control. Of particular note, the cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the Mugasol and Densol fertilizer regimen outperformed the control. This study thus propounds that the Mugasol and Densol fertilizer formulations hold promise as viable alternatives for devising fertilizer schedules tailored to C. sativus L. cultivation within CEA. However, it's crucial to conduct repeated experiments to ensure robust conclusions.