EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS FERTILIZATION ON THE CUCUMBER SEEDLING QUALITY

Abstract

The research on the effects of continuous fertilization on the cucumber seedling quality was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade. The examined cucumber plants grew under artificial light (MH 600W). In addition to light, temperature and relative air humidity were also controlled. The research was carried out on the hybrid cucumber Caman RZ. The plants were cultivated in 10.5 cm diameter pots filled with the Terracult TC 10 substrate. The experiment contained three variations. In the first variation (0 – control) the plants grew without fertilization. The plants from the second variation (1) were fertilized only once using the crystal fertilizer Fitofert Kristal (10:40:10), while the plants from the third variation (2) were continuously fertilized using the organic mineral fertilizer Fitofert Humistart (4:12:5). During the nursery period, the development of the examined plants was monitored on a weekly basis. The research lasted for 32 days (sowing/transplanting). There was a significant effect of fertilization on the development of cucumber seedlings. Also, it was proven that there was a positive impact of continuous fertilization on the reduction of the nursery period (economic efficiency).