Significant increase in yield by cultivating cucumber under shade net
Cucumber yield has the potential to increase exponentially. Yes, but only when placed in optimal conditions. Cucumber is very sensitive to temperature, humidity and light intensity. Planting cucumbers in open fields makes the plant vulnerable and unable to produce maximum yield. In fact, according to surveys and reports, the yield of cucumbers outdoors is 3 to 5 times less than cucumber cultivation in a protected environment!
Cucumber does not tolerate water stress. A good irrigation system, shading and mulching will provide proper health and stability of this plant under cultivation. Also, growing cucumbers in a protected environment with shade net prevents pests and diseases. For example, downy mildew can destroy an entire field of cucumbers without a protective cover, but in a protected environment (with the help of netting) insects such as aphids and whiteflies are under control and can be controlled more effectively. The mentioned considerations can be well applied by growing cucumbers under 30% shade net to obtain more and better quality products.
The results of various researches have shown that the use of colored shading nets changes the microclimate around cucumber plants, which leads to a decrease in the average air temperature and light intensity in hot seasons, as well as an increase in the relative humidity of the air compared to cultivation without shade netting. The findings showed that cucumber plants covered with green shade netting and then black shading net had the highest values of vegetative growth characteristics such as: root length, plant height, number of leaves and fresh and dry weight of the plant. The highest yield of cucumbers was reported under green shade netting and then black shade netting.
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