Substrate with Organosuper® for cucumber seedlings formation in protected environments and polystyrene trays

Substrato com Organosuper® para formação de mudas de pepineiro em ambientes protegidos e bandejas de poliestireno

AGRICULTURAL BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT

Substrate with Organosuper^® for cucumber seedlings formation in protected environments and polystyrene trays

Substrato com Organosuper^® para formação de mudas de pepineiro em ambientes protegidos e bandejas de poliestireno

Edilson Costa^I; Laura C. R. Vieira^II; Paulo A. M. Leal^III; Murillo C. de S. Jara^IV; Priscilla N. de L. Silva^IV

^IProf. Adjunto, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS, Unidade Universitária de Cassilândia - MS, Brasil, [e-mail]

^IIMestre do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia, Produção Vegetal, UEMS/Aquidauana - MS, [e-mail]

^IIIEngº Agrícola, Prof. Titular, FEAGRI/UNICAMP, Campinas - SP, [e-mail]

^IVEngº. Agrônomo, UEMS/Aquidauana - MS, [e-mail] (PIBIC), [e-mail] (PIBIC/CNPq)

ABSTRACT

Culture environments, trays and doses of organic compost were evaluated in the formation of cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.). Five environmental conditions were tested: (A1) a greenhouse with height of 2.5 m, covered with polyethylene film, (A2) nursery with height of 2.5 m, monofilament fabric, 50% shading, (A3) nursery with height of 2.5 m, heat-reflective screen, 50% shading, (A4) nursery with a height of 1.8 m, covered with coconut tree straw and (A5) greenhouse with height of 4.0 m, covered with polyethylene film, with zenith opening and thermo-reflective cloth under the plastic. Trays of 72 (R1) and 128 (R2) cells were filled with 93% soil and 7% organic compound (S1), 86% soil and 14% organic compound (S2) and 79% soil and 21% organic compound (S3). It was used a randomized design in split-split-plot scheme, with five replicates (environments x trays x substrates). The greenhouses provide the best environments for the formation of cucumber seedlings. A tray of 72 cells is the best container, promoting more vigorous seedlings in substrate with soil and 7 or 14% organic compound.

Keywords: environments of cultivation, containers, substrates, Cucumis sativus.

RESUMO

Ambientes de cultivo, bandejas e doses de composto orgânico foram avaliados na formação de mudas de pepino (Cucumis sativus L.). Cinco ambientes de cultivo foram testados: (A1) estufa agrícola com altura de 2,5 m coberta com filme de polietileno; (A2) viveiro com altura de 2,5 m, tela de monofilamento com 50% de sombreamento; (A3) viveiro com altura de 2,5 m, tela termorrefletora, com 50% de sombreamento; (A4) viveiro com altura de 1,8 m, coberto com palha de coqueiro, e (A5) estufa agrícola com altura de 4,0 m, coberta com filme de polietileno, com abertura zenital e tela termorrefletora sob o filme. Bandejas de 72 (R1) e 128 (R2) células foram preenchidas com 93% de solo e 7% de composto orgânico (S1); 86% de solo e 14% de composto orgânico (S2), e 79% de solo e 21% de composto orgânico (S3). Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema de parcelas subsubdivididas, com cinco repetições (ambientes x bandejas x substratos). As estufas agrícolas propiciam os melhores ambientes para a formação das mudas de pepino. A bandeja de 72 células é o melhor recipiente, promovendo plântulas mais vigorosas no substrato com solo e 7 ou 14 % de composto orgânico.

Palavras-chave: ambientes de cultivo, recipientes, substratos, Cucumis sativus.

INTRODUCTION

The cucurbitaceae contribute with approximately 25% of vegetables sold in Brazil. Among these, the cucumber features importance, as it is consumed raw, tanned in brine, and rarely mature (CAÑIZARES et al., 2002). In the upper South Pantanal of Mato Grosso and in the state itself, vegetable production is low and supply is conducted by the offer coming from other Brazilian states.

The seedling has an important question in production systems, where the standard quality is crucial to the future performance of the plant field. A malformed seedling compromises the whole development of culture, increasing its cycle and leading to loss in production (ECHER et al., 2007). In the seedling, factors such as substrates, containers and crop environments are techniques that seek to maximize the productive potential and vigor of seedlings to be transplanted to the field.

The protected cultivation technology results in advances in the best conditions for the development of seedlings in both phytotechnical and phytosanitary aspects. The breakthrough in the production of vegetables seedlings was the use of trays with individual cells, where the trays of 288 cells are used for the production of lettuce, chicory, cabbage, cauliflower, and the trays of 128 cells for the production of seedlings of cucurbitaceae and solanaceous (SEABRA JR. et al., 2004).

Depending on the formulation, the commercial substrates showed different responses in the production of vegetable seedlings (CALVETE & SANTI, 2000). Normally, the substrates are made by farmers themselves, using various materials, pure or mixtures, available in their regions. In seedlings of hybrid Japanese cucumber, Hokuho, the base substrate of soil and nutrient solution (CAÑIZARES et al., 2002), as well as trays of 72 cells (SEABRA JR. et al., 2004) led to better characteristics to seedlings.

There is high importance of vegetables from other Brazilian states by the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, reaching about 85% consumed in the country (BOLETIM ANUAL, 2011). These data indicate the need for regional research, involving the production of vegetables, which could encourage greater activity in the Pantanal region, where there are small producers, which surround the urban centers and serving local markets.

Given the above, this study aimed to evaluate environmental conditions, polystyrene trays and substrates with organic compost in the formation of cucumber seedlings at Aquidauana region, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiments for the formation of cucumber seedlings were conducted with Aladdin F1 (H1), Nikkei (H2), Sapphire (H2) and Noble F1 (H4) hybrids. The study was performed at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana Universitarian Unit, which is located at a 174 m altitude, -20º28'16" latitude and -55º47'14" longitude. The climate according to Köeppen is Aw, defined as humid tropical climate and average annual temperature of 29 ºC.

Five protected ambient were used: (A1) greenhouse, type chapel, covered with a polyethylene film of low density, 150 microns thick, laterally and frontally closed with raffia shade cloth in black, mesh to 50% shading; (A2) nursery with locks on the front and side cover with monofilament shade cloth in black, mesh to 50% shade (Sombrite^®); (A3) nursery, with locks on the front and side cover with thermo-reflective aluminized cloth (Aluminet^®), mesh to 50% shade, (A4) nursery covered with coconut tree straw native to the region, popularly known as buriti, built of wood, in the dimensions of 3.0 m long by 1.20 m wide by 1.80 m tall; and (A5) arched greenhouse, galvanized steel structure, having 6.40 m wide by 18.00 m long, with a height under the gutter of 4.00 m, covered with polyethylene film of low density, 150 microns thick, with an zenith opening along the ridge, having in the side and front parts a monofilament cloth, mesh to 50% shade, and heat-reflecting cloth of 50% on the plastic. The environmental conditions (A1, A2 and A3) were of wood, having dimensions of 5.0 m long by 5.0 m wide by 2.50 m ceiling.

The seedlings were tested in polystyrene trays with different numbers of cells, R1 – trays of 128 cells (3.5 cm wide by 6.2 cm high and volume of 34.6 cm³ per cell) and R2 – trays of 72 cells (5.0 cm wide by 12.0 cm and volume of 121.2 cm³ per cell).

Three percentages of commercial organic compost were used, 7%, 14% and 21%, mixed with the soil of the region, classified as Alfissol (EMBRAPA, 2006), for the composition of the substrates, where they have been designated of: (S1) 93% of soil and 7% of organic compound, (S2) 86% of soil and 14% of organic compound, (S3) 79% of soil and 21% of organic compound, all based on volume (Table 1).

For the evaluation of the experiments, for each hybrid, it was used a completely randomized design (CRD), a split-split-plot scheme (five environments x two containers x three substrates = 30 treatments) with five replicates.

It was used soil of the 10-40 cm deep layer, air dried, sieved to 2 mm mesh and analyzed chemically. After preparation, the soil was mixed in accordance with each percentage, with the organic compound named Organosuper^® (Table 1). The organic compound had the following composition: pH = 6.51; Organic carbon = 26.2%; Moisture = 4.56%; Nitrogen = 1.83%; Phosphorus = 0.96%; Potassium = 0.35%; Calcium = 6.24%; Magnesium = 0.88%; Sodium = 0.23% (Source: Laboratory of Embrapa, Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul). All substrates received doses of 2.5 kg of superphosphate, 0.3 kg of potassium chloride and 1.5 kg of lime, this based on a volume of 1.0 m³ of substrate. The system of seedling production used was trays suspended on benches, irrigated with manual irrigation twice a day, morning and afternoon.

The substrate preparation and filling of the trays was held on April 9^th, 2008. The substrates remained 30 days at rest, and once daily irrigation. Sowing took place on May 12^th, germinating 6 days after sowing (DAS) by performing the thinning at 16 DAS. It was evaluated the plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm) and dry mass of aerial part and root (g).

Plant height (PH) was measured using a millimeter ruler and stem diameter (SM) with a digital caliper of Starrett brand. The dry masses were performed on an analytical balance, Bioprecisa brand, FA2104N model, accurate to four decimal places. The material was dried in an oven with forced circulation of air, Hydrosan brand, and the temperature of 65 ºC.

Data on plant height, stem diameter and dry masses were subjected to analysis of variance and the means by Tukey test at 5% probability.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Alladin Hybrid - H1

In the nursery (A2 and A3), the containers were similar for all parameters evaluated, except for plant height in the nursery with aluminized cloth (A3), which was higher in the tray with 72 cells (R2) (Table 2). In greenhouses (A1 and A5), the tray of 72 cells stood out, promoting more vigorous seedlings, as well as in the nursery covered with straw (A4) in height and dry mass of aerial part. For the tray of 128 cells (R1), the environments showed small differences in dry mass of aerial part and in plant height, however, for the container R2, the greenhouses led to better conditions for seedling development (Table 2). Probably, depending on the season (late fall and early winter), covers with polyethylene film (A1 and A5) were more conducive to the development of changes in container with greater volume. The polyethylene film is capable of retaining greater amount of energy in the environment and it possibly promoted better growth and biomass. The side cloths of these environments (A1 and A5) helped to minimize the strong draft of that period.

The tray of 72 cells stood out in the biomass, height and diameter of seedlings grown in greenhouses, in agreement with the results of SEABRA JR. et al. (2004), in the seedlings of Japanese cucumber 'Hokuho' who observed that the seedlings reduced their force when carried in containers with smaller volume of substrate, causing losses in fruit/plant production if transplanting occurs later.

The cucumber seedlings in different substrates showed no major difference in aerial and root biomass in nurseries (Table 3). In lower greenhouse conditions (A1), the substrate with 7% of organic compound (S1) increased the concentration of root biomass; however, the substrate with 14% (S2) resulted in higher accumulation of aerial biomass in both smaller and larger greenhouse (A5). The cucumber seedlings formed in greenhouses had best results, with higher aerial and root biomass on all substrates, as observed with the largest volume in the container (Table 3). Probably 14% of organic compound and the mineral fertilizer promoted greater amount of available nutrients and favorable physical conditions to greater dry matter accumulation, besides promoting better aeration and moisture retention.

For all types of substrates, the tray of 72 cells promoted the best results of aerial and root biomass than the tray of 128 cells. For the container R1, the substrate S1 stood in the accumulation of root biomass, as well as the substrate S2 stood out for leaf biomass in the container R2 (Table 4). By having larger cells, the container R2 allowed the seedlings permanence in a longer period inside the protected environment, prior to transplanting to the field. For the substrates used, the container R2 provided the best results. As for the R1, it was observed that the substrate S1 showed a significant accumulation of root biomass, as well as the S2 stood out for the leaf biomass in R2 (Table 4). These results were corroborated by literature (CHAGAS et al., 2006), by the fact that R2 has a higher volume of substrate in relation to R1, making available, then, a greater surface of contact with the roots, thus increasing the absorption of water and nutrients.

The treatment with 14% of organic compound in the tray with larger cell volume (72 cells) within the greenhouses may be suitable for the formation of the Alladin hybrid seedlings. To this hybrid SEABRA JR et al. (2004) observed that seedlings from trays of 72 cells obtained early harvesting of fruit seedlings than trays of 128 cells.

Nikkey Hybrid - H2

The trays of 72 cells induced greater seedling and greater biomass accumulation in all environments evaluated. In the container R1, environments were similar to the dry biomass of root and aerial part and stem diameter, as for plant height, A2 and A5 environments stood out. For the container R2, greenhouses (A1 and A5) and monofilament cloth (A2) resulted in greater biomass and plant height (Table 5).

These results indicate that in addition to the greenhouses, which led to better environments for hybrid H1 (Aladdin), the monofilament cloth (A2) also promoted satisfactory conditions of development of Nikkei Hybrid (H2). The results obtained for the tray of 72 cells (R2) is in agreement with the results in literature in respect of seedlings grown in containers with greater volume of substrate, most probably for providing more nutrients.

The substrate with 14% of organic compound (S2) resulted in higher accumulation of root biomass than the other substrates, only on monofilament mesh (A2). The greenhouses (A1 and A5) stood out for the three substrates in the accumulation of root biomass, however, for the S1 and S2 they did not differ from monofilament mesh and for the S3 they did not differ from the nursery with straw (A4). The largest stem diameters were obtained in greenhouses for the substrates S1 and S2, and for the S3, the environments were similar (Table 6). This may be due to environmental conditions in greenhouses that can be better managed than the mesh, because on these the conformation of mesh allows the entry of rainwater.

On all substrates, the tray of 72 cells (R2) resulted in higher biomass. In this container, the substrate S2 provided seedlings with greater dry mass than the seedlings of other substrates and less root biomass for seedlings of S3 (Table 7).

For the hybrid Nikkei an alternative treatment for the best seedling formation could be the use of greenhouses or monofilament mesh, with a tray of 72 cells filled with the base substrate of soil and 14% of organic compound.

It was expected that higher doses of organic compound to the substrate would promote better plant growth, which was not observed, possibly due to non-uniformity of the commercial organic. PEREIRA et al. (2008) observed that doses of kaolin from 22%, mixed to substrates, promoted slower growth of papaya. In genipap seedlings, the base substrate of organic (cattle manure) and black earth, in a 1:1 ratio, provided higher dry matter accumulation, revealing the possibility of using 50% of organic compound (COSTA et al. , 2005), unlike what occurred in this experiment. Probably the materials constituting the commercial organic compound (Organosuper ®) and the type of composting allowed its use in up to 14%, mixed with the soil of the region.

Safira Hybrid – H3

In the environment A4, the containers were similar in the seedling, with no interference from the substrate volume, however, in other environments, the container R2 stood out. For the R2, greenhouses showed to be more prone environments to the seedling growth, as well as for R1 in aerial biomass and plant height (Table 8).

Only in the smaller greenhouse (A1), the substrates with lower percentage of organic compound (S1 and S2) stood out, but for the three substrates, the environments A1 and A5 promoted higher accumulation of root biomass (Table 9). The use of S1 and S2 promotes economy of organic compound, providing the lowest cost to the producer. In guanandi seedlings (Calophyllum brasiliense Cambèss.), ARTUR et al. (2007) found no positive effect of organic fertilizer (manure) in a substrate composed of sand and soil.

The use of organic compost of 7 and 14% mixed with the soil of the region (S1 and S2) are favorable for the formation of Sapphire hybrid (H3) seedlings, concomitant with the use of trays of 72 cells (R2) in greenhouses (A1 and A5). Substrates based on fertilized steep bank 7.7 kg.m^-3 of simple superphosphate and 40% of poultry litter (organic fertilizer) per 1.0 m³ led vigorous seedlings of yellow passion fruit (DAVID et al., 2008).

Nobre Hybrid – H4

For the stem diameter in environments A1 and A5 and the other variables in all environments, the container R2 gave better seedlings. For container R1, the environments practically promoted development similar to the seedlings, but the container R2 for the greenhouses (A1 and A5) emerged as the best environment (Table 10).

In the environment A1, the substrate S1 showed higher MSF, SM, and PH than the substrate S2, and in the environment A5, the substrate S2 was higher than the S3 for biomass and stem diameter. The greenhouses stood out for the three substrates tested (Table 11).

In the studied substrates, the tray of 72 cells (R2) promoted better seedlings, however, only the substrate S1 produced greater root in this container (Table 12). Even with higher volume and resulting in higher costs with substrates, the tray of 72 cells for the region of Aquidauana is the best because, as it is a hot region and has high evapotranspiration, especially in greenhouses.

SEABRA JR. et al. (2004) studied two volumes of cell of expanded polystyrene trays (34.6 and 121.2 cm³), in the production of Japanese cucumber 'Hokuho' under protected environment, found that seedlings produced in large volume of substrate obtained early fruit harvest in the field. Seedlings of sugar beet (ECHER et al., 2007), castor bean (LIMA et al., 2006) and passion fruit (COSTA et al., 2009), formed in containers of greater volume, are more vigorous as those observed in this work.

In summary, during the period in which the experiment was conducted, the seedlings of hybrids were better adapted to environments that had polyethylene film on the roof, in the container with higher volume and lower percentages of commercial organic compound. The largest amount of organic matter (Table 1) of this substrate possibly increased the C/N ratio, which immobilized the nitrogen (SAMPAIO et al., 2008) and required a longer biological stabilization. These results are consistent with those found by RODRIGUES et al. (2010) for tomato seedlings, which were found better seedling in substrates containing smaller (7%) percentages of the compound when compared to larger (14 and 21%). Just like COSTA et al. (2010), in passion fruit seedlings, and COSTA et al. (2011), in papaya, found that smaller percentages of this compound (7%, 14% and 21%) provided better seedlings than the dose of 28%.

CONCLUSIONS

The greenhouses provide better environments for the formation of cucumber seedlings.

The cucumber seedlings are more vigorous in a tray of 72 cells and substrates with soil and 7 or 14% of organic compound.

Recebido pelo Conselho Editorial em: 16-5-2011

Aprovado pelo Conselho Editorial em: 15-12-2011

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  16 July 2012
• Date of issue
  Apr 2012

History

• Received
  16 May 2011
• Accepted
  15 Dec 2011