Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System
Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L., cv. “Nina Z”) plants grafted onto squash (<i>Cucurbita maxima</i>, cv. “Yu Yu Ikki”) were grown in a greenhouse using the newly developed nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system “Kappa land” (Mitsubishi aqua solutions Co., Ltd., To...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/4/478 |
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| author | Nethone Samba Osamu Nunomura Akimasa Nakano Satoru Tsukagoshi |
| author_facet | Nethone Samba Osamu Nunomura Akimasa Nakano Satoru Tsukagoshi |
| author_sort | Nethone Samba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L., cv. “Nina Z”) plants grafted onto squash (<i>Cucurbita maxima</i>, cv. “Yu Yu Ikki”) were grown in a greenhouse using the newly developed nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system “Kappa land” (Mitsubishi aqua solutions Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), from February to June 2022. The growth and development of cucumbers were examined under two different training methods: Lowering training (LT) and Pinching training (PT). Data collected were related to water and nutrient consumption, plant growth and development parameters, and the workload of the main activities. The results showed that plants grown under the LT recorded significantly higher total stem length (10.9 m) and number of nodes (133). In addition, from 21 April to 19 May, the leaf area index was significantly higher in the LT treatment. The highest total yield (15.4 kg m<sup>−2</sup>) and marketable yield per unit area (13.8 kg m<sup>−2</sup>) were recorded in the LT treatment. Regarding fruit growth, the fruits took 14 and 19 days to reach the standard harvest weight in the PT and LT treatments, respectively. In addition, the fruits were more straight in the PT treatment. The water use efficiency was not significantly different between the two treatments. However, the nutrient use efficiency was significantly higher in the PT treatment because plants produced more vegetative organs in the LT treatment instead of fruits. The work for removing old leaves and harvesting fruits was simplified in the LT treatment. The LT method can be effective for the automation of old leaf removal and fruit picking by the robot in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:58:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0ef20f55fb04dea860cb1eed849cd60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:58:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0ef20f55fb04dea860cb1eed849cd602023-11-17T19:29:18ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242023-04-019447810.3390/horticulturae9040478Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic SystemNethone Samba0Osamu Nunomura1Akimasa Nakano2Satoru Tsukagoshi3Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa-no-ha 6-2-1, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanJapan Plant Factory Association, Kashiwa-no-ha 6-2-1, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa-no-ha 6-2-1, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa-no-ha 6-2-1, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanCucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L., cv. “Nina Z”) plants grafted onto squash (<i>Cucurbita maxima</i>, cv. “Yu Yu Ikki”) were grown in a greenhouse using the newly developed nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system “Kappa land” (Mitsubishi aqua solutions Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), from February to June 2022. The growth and development of cucumbers were examined under two different training methods: Lowering training (LT) and Pinching training (PT). Data collected were related to water and nutrient consumption, plant growth and development parameters, and the workload of the main activities. The results showed that plants grown under the LT recorded significantly higher total stem length (10.9 m) and number of nodes (133). In addition, from 21 April to 19 May, the leaf area index was significantly higher in the LT treatment. The highest total yield (15.4 kg m<sup>−2</sup>) and marketable yield per unit area (13.8 kg m<sup>−2</sup>) were recorded in the LT treatment. Regarding fruit growth, the fruits took 14 and 19 days to reach the standard harvest weight in the PT and LT treatments, respectively. In addition, the fruits were more straight in the PT treatment. The water use efficiency was not significantly different between the two treatments. However, the nutrient use efficiency was significantly higher in the PT treatment because plants produced more vegetative organs in the LT treatment instead of fruits. The work for removing old leaves and harvesting fruits was simplified in the LT treatment. The LT method can be effective for the automation of old leaf removal and fruit picking by the robot in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/4/478greenhouseleaf area indexlowering trainingpinching trainingworkloadyield |
| spellingShingle | Nethone Samba Osamu Nunomura Akimasa Nakano Satoru Tsukagoshi Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System Horticulturae greenhouse leaf area index lowering training pinching training workload yield |
| title | Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System |
| title_full | Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System |
| title_fullStr | Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System |
| title_short | Effective Training Methods for Cucumber Production in Newly Developed Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System |
| title_sort | effective training methods for cucumber production in newly developed nutrient film technique hydroponic system |
| topic | greenhouse leaf area index lowering training pinching training workload yield |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/4/478 |
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