Zeolite and hydrogel improve yield of greenhouse cucumber in soil-less medium under water limitation

The main objectives of this research were to determine the effects of interactions among irrigation strategies and substrate amendment rates on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) physiological traits, fruit quality and yield in a soilless culture system in greenhouses. The experiments were conducted based on randomized complete block design arranged in split plot with three replicates in two years. The treatments consisted of different irrigation treatments (deficit irrigation (DI), partial root-zone drying (PRD) strategy and full irrigation as control) and three mixtures of substrates (pure perlite, perlite + 1% (zeolite + hydrogel) and perlite + 2% (zeolite + hydrogel)). Not only fruit yield increased at PRD compared to DI, but fruit quality significantly improved. In addition, mixing the zeolite + hydrogel, especially in the highest amount (2%), into the growth medium improved physicochemical properties of substrate and enhanced water retention capacity and leads to increase in yield. Zeolite + hydrogel application effect was more pronounced in plants grown at PRD than DI or control.