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Cucumber fertilizer requirements for various growing methods

Either grown in open field, greenhouse or tunnel, Haifa's fertilizers supply all the required nutrients in order to improve yield and marketability

 

1. Open-field

Plant density of 30,000 – 40,000 / ha.
Expected yield of 25 – 35 Ton / ha.

 
 
 

I. Pre-plant Application

 
Nutrient demand (kg/ha)Recommended fertilizers (kg/ha)
NP2O5K2OCaOSO3Ammonium sulfate*Single Superphosphate**Potassium sulfate
15016030065225750800600
 
 

*Other nitrogen sources can also be used, with the necessary revisions, but AS also supplies the S.
** Other phosphorus sources can also be used, with the necessary revisions, but SSP also supplies the Ca.

 
 
 

II. Side Dressing

 
Month after sowingGrowth stageNutrient demand (kg/ha/month)Recommended fertilizers (kg/ha/month)
NP2O5K2OMulti-KHaifa MAPAN
1stVegetative development303020455055
2ndFlowering – fruit-set6030901955085
3rd to endFruit develop. & harvest6030901955085
Total15090200435150225
 
 
Haifa MAP = Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0).
AN = Ammonium nitrate (33.5-0-0).
 
 
 

II. Fertigation*

 
Month after sowingGrowth stageNutrient demand (kg/ha/day)Recommended fertilizers (kg/ha/day)
NP2O5K2OMulti-KHaifa MAPAN
1stVegetative development1.01.00.71.41.61.8
2ndFlowering – fruit-set2.01.03.06.51.63.0
3rd to the endFruit develop. & harvest2.01.03.06.51.63.0
Total15090200435150225
 
 
Haifa MAP = Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0)
AN = Ammonium nitrate (33.5-0-0)
* The fertilizers should be applied every 1 – 2 irrigation cycles.
 
 
 

2. Greenhouse or Tunnel, growth in soil

Plant density of 18,000 – 24,000 / ha.
Expected yield of 120 – 150 Ton / ha.
 
 
Total nutrient requirements (kg/ha)
NP2O5K2O
200 - 240130 - 150300 - 350
 
 
 
 

Pre-plant Application

 
Nutrient demand (kg/ha)Recommended fertilizers (kg/ha)
NP2O5K2OAmmonium sulfate*Triple Superphosphate**SOP
2180 - 10080 - 100100175 - 220160 - 200
 
 
*Other nitrogen sources, such as AN or urea can also be used, with the necessary revisions.
** Other phosphorus sources, such as DAP or SSP can also be used, with the necessary revisions.
 
 
 

Fertigation or Side Dressing

 
Growth stageNutrient demand (kg/ha/day)Recommended fertilizers (kg/ha/day)
NP2O5K2OANHaifa MAPMulti-K
Establishment1.01.01.01.51.62.2
Vegetative -Flowering2.01.02.02.21.64.5
Flowering - fruitset2.51.03.54.01.68.0
Fruitset - harvest3.5-4.56.51.610
 
 

Haifa MAP = Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0)
AN = Ammonium nitrate (33.5 – 0 - 0)

 
 
 

Secondary nutrients

Magnesium
Magnesium should be applied throughout the growing season, and adjusted according to the concentration in the soil and irrigation water.
Total required rate = 0.4 – 0.6 Kg/ha/day (MgO) preferably as magnesium nitrate (Magnisal).
Proportional rate = 20 – 40 (MgO) g/m3 preferably as magnesium nitrate (Magnisal).

 

Calcium
Calcium should be applied from fruit set until the end of harvest. Dosage should be adjusted according to the concentration in the soil and irrigation water.
Total required rate = 2 – 4 Kg/ha/day (CaO)
Proportional rate = 80 – 120 (CaO) g/m3


When proportional fertigation setup is available 
Nutrients should be applied at the following rates during the indicated physiological stages.

 
 
Physiological stageNP2O5K2OCaOMgO
EstablishmentRatio10.71.31.30.8
Rate (mg/liter = ppm)60 - 8044 - 5570 - 11084 - 10050 - 66
 Flowering and productionRatio10.41.50.650.3
Rate (mg/liter = ppm)180 - 22075 - 95280 - 320110 - 14050 - 66
 
 
 
 

Micronutrients should be maintained at the following levels (ppm) in the nutrition solution throughout the growth period:

 
 
FeMnZnCuBMo
1 - 1.50.5 - 0.80.1 - 0.30.05 - 0.10.30.05
 
 

For the fertigated solution EC should not exceed 2.2 dS/m and pH should be maintained at 5.5 – 6.5.

 
 
 

3. Greenhouse or tunnel, growth in soilless culture

Special consideration for practicing of fertigation in soilless grown cucumbers

Cucumbers can be grown in greenhouses in a number of soilless media such as perlite, rockwool, peat, etc. When growing cucumbers in soilless media special care must be taken in monitoring the nutrients that the crop receives. The following factors should be taken into account: (Avidan, 1998)
 

  • pH. The pH in the nutrient solution should be maintained at a level of 6.0 – 6.5. The pH can be lowered by the use of acids. Adjustment of pH levels can be accomplished by slight changes in the nitrate/ammonium ratio in the nutrient solution.
  • Electrical Conductivity (EC). The difference between the EC of the nutrient solution and the drain water should not exceed 0.4-0.5 dS/m (depending on the properties of the water supply).
  • Nitrate (NO3-).  The level of nitrate in the drain water should be 500 –600 ppm depending on the nitrate level, which changes according to the growing season.
  • Nitrate/ Ammonium ratio should not be lower than 5 : 1.
  • Nitrite (NO2-).  The level of nitrite should be zero, because its presence in the growth medium impairs roots functioning and causes browning.

 

In addition, it should be borne in mind that a high level of either ammonia or ammonium interferes with the ability of the roots to absorb K (Schenk and Wehrmann, 1979).

 
 
Growth stageNutrient requirements
(g/m3 = ppm)		Recommended fertilizers (g/m3 = ppm)
NP2O5K2OCaOMgOMulti-KMAPANCNMg. * sulfate
Establishment - flowering180 9018010040400150160380120
Flowering Fruit-set Production2409017020080800150-760240
 
 

*This source of magnesium was selected to provide the sulfate to the medium.

 
 
 

 
ParameterNutrient solutionRoot environment
EC (dS/m)<2.2<3.0
pH5.5 - 6.5
 
 
 
 

Micronutrients should be maintained at the following levels (ppm) throughout the growth period:
 
 
FeMnZnCuBMo
0.90.550.320.050.250.05
 
 

A complete guide for the nutrition of cucumbers in greenhouses on rockwool is given in the end of this recommendation.

 
 
 

4. Foliar sprays

Nutritive Foliar Application
Multi-K at concentrations of 1.5%-2.0% in water were found to be the most effective nutritive solution for boosting vegetative and production response of the plants. However, the safe concentration should be determined by spraying the solution onto a small area a few days prior to the actual treatment to assess whether there may be any adverse effects.

 
 
 

Nutrition database for cucumber

 
 concentration
 RockwoolRockwool (reuse drainage)Plant – dry matter (7-8%)
ParameterNutrient SolutionRoot Environ.Nutrient SolutionRoot Environ.Guiding RangeDeficientExcessive
EC (mS/cm)2.23.01.73.0   
 (mg/l)(mg/l)(%)
NH422.5< 9.018.0< 9.0   
N-NH417.3< 6.913.8< 6.9   
K in sap    0.59 –0.63< 0.18 
K312.8312.8254.2312.83.13 – 3.91< 2.35 
Ca160.4260.7110.3260.72.41-3.21< 1.20 
Mg60.8103.336.5103.30.24-0.49< 0.24 
N, total    4.20 – 5.60  
NO3992.01116.0728.51116.01.86  
N-NO3223.9251.9164.4251.90.42  
S, total    0.32  
SO4132.1336.496.1336.4   
P    0.62 – 0.93< 0.47 
H2PO4121.387.3121.387.3   
Si21.116.921.116.9   
Na    0.06 – 0.07  
     mg/Kg (ppm)
Fe0.8380.8380.8381.39683.8 – 111.7  
Mn0.5490.3850.5490.38554.9-164.8 > 549.3*
Zn0.3270.4580.3270.45849.0 – 143.8< 26.1 
B0.2700.0540.2700.54054.0 – 75.6< 43.2> 108.0
Cu0.0480.0950.0480.09510.2< 8.9** 
Mo0.048-0.048-0.96 – 9.59< 0.29 
 
 

* in old leaves
**  in young leaves; in old leaves deficient at Cu < 5.08 mg/Kg DM

 

Important note: The a/m database was prepared to fit Dutch conditions (low transpiration and low EC of the water). Some modifications may be required to correspond to your local conditions.

 

sources: N. Straver. Nutrient solutions for vegetables and flowers grown in water or substrates.  10th Ed. 1994.
C. de Kreij, Sonneveld C., Warmenhoven M.G. and Straver N.A. Guide values for nutrient element contents of vegetables and flowers under glass. 3rd Ed. 1992.

 
 
 

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product

 
NPKCaMgS
---------------------------------------------------Kg / ton-----------------------------------------
4.01.06.01.01.31.0
 
 

Source: Kinoch: VOLHOUBARE LANDBOU, RSA. Processed by Frans Lourens, Haifa, RSA May, 1999.

 
 
 
 

Cucumbers – Mineral analysis values

 
 In leaves
NutrientAverage valueCritical level
 (%)
N2.90 
S0.30 
P0.52 
K2.90 
Mg0.54 
Ca2.20 
Na0.08 
 (ppm)
Fe140 
Al90 
Mn115 
B45 
Cu16 
Zn35 
Mo  
 
 
Need more information about growing cucumbers? You can always return to the cucumber fertilizer & cucumber crop guide table of contents  or the cucumber growth stages
 
 

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