The Influence Of Priming Two Cucumber Cultivar Seeds

J. Duhok Univ. Vol.13, No.1, (Agri. And Vet. Sciences) Pp 131-138, 2010
EFFECT OF HUMIC ACID AND SEAWEED EXTRACT ON GROWTH,
YIELD AND FRUITS QUALITY OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L).
GHURBAT H. MOHAMMAD
Dept .Of Horticulture, College Of Agriculture, University Of Duhok , Kurdistan Region-Iraq
(Received: September 16, 2010; Accepted for publication: January 31, 2011)
ABSTRACT
This experiment was carried out in Horticulture Department/College of Agriculture/ Duhok University on
Cucumber plants during season 2010, to study the effect of three levels of Humic acid (0.0, 1, 2 g.L -1 ) and three levels of
Seaweed extract (0.0, 2, 3 ml.L -1 ) on cucumber cv. Carol growing inside Plastic house. The results shows that spraying
Humic acid or Seaweed extract led to positive significant difference in leaf area, leaves chlorophyll content, plant length,
fruits number, early and total yield as well as fruit weight, fruit length, yield per plant, fruit dry weight, fruit chlorophyll
content and TSS as compared to untreated plants.
The interaction between Humic acid and Seaweed extract was significantly enhanced all detected traits, Since cucumber
plants received 2 g.L -1 Humic acid and sprayed with 3 ml.L -1 of Seaweed extract were characterized by the highest values
of all growth and yield characteristics.
KEY WORDS: Cucumber, Humic acid, Seaweed, Carol
C
INTRODUCTION
ucumber, (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of
the most important vegetable crops in
Kurdistan and Iraq, it is a warm season
crop required growing conditions of 26 to 30 °C and
plenty of sunlight, has been commonly cultivated
in Iraq during the summer and fall as well as in low
tunnels and plastic and green houses (Matlob et al
1989). Organic fertilizers represented by Humic
acid is one of the Humus substance compound
produced from organic matter analysis (Al-Niemi
1999). Humic acid is a commercial product
contains many elements which improve the soil
fertility and increasing the availability of nutrient
elements and consequently affected plant growth
and yield. Humic acid reduces other fertilizer
requirements, increases yield in crops, improved
drainage and aeration of the soil and increase the
protein and mineral contents of most crops and
establish a desirable environment for microorganism
development.
Seaweed extracts, a concentrated organic
fertilizer (usually liquid, but can be soluble granules)
that can be diluted and applied to tender seedlings
and transplants as well as larger plants. Seaweed
extracts act as plant growth stimulants, their
effectiveness may be influenced by the species
included and the manufacturing technique used.
Overall crop performance is improved due to their
effect on plant growth, protein, carbohydrate
production and prolonged chlorophyll production
and photosynthesis. Nonetheless it is possible that
Seaweed extracts contain sufficient trace
elements to remedy marginal deficiencies as has
been demonstrated by (Aitken& Senn, 1965). It
is also quite possible that the nutrients and trace
elements may interact with other ingredients in the
Seaweed to produce a crop response.
Large yield increases in potatoes, soybeans and
algae cultures due to using of Humic acid have been
shown by (Freeman, 1970). Syabryai et al. (1965)
showed that there is an increase 100% in yield
when the plants fertilized with NPK and Humic
acids in potatoes and cabbage, he added that
barley crops increased considerably and growth
was more rapid with Humic acids. Kowalski et al
(1999) describe the positive effects of Seaweed
extract on plant growth and increasing yield of
potato plant significantly. Thomas (2002) found
that using Seaweed extract (sea Buck thorn )
causes in increasing growth and fresh weight of
vegetative and roots growth significant of Rose
plant.
The latter reported also found that application of
Humic acid led to improve plant growth, increase
plant yield and improve quality of squash (Hafez,
2004). Jensen (2004) found that spraying Seaweed
extract contain micro elements ( Co, B, Mo, Zn,
Cu) as well as macro element, Auxins,
Gibberellins and Cytokines led to increasing root
ability for growth and nutrient absorption and
increasing stem thickness and strong vegetative
and root growth.
This study was planned to determine the
effect of humic acid and Seaweed extracts on
growth, yield and fruit quality of cucumber Carol
cv. under plastic house conditions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was carried out during
season 2010, at the vegetative research farm,
College of Agriculture, University of Duhok
inside plastic house, on cucumber (cv. Carol).
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