Relationships between petiol sap nitrate with nitrogen content of soil and plant in protected cucumber cultivation

Abstract

Cucumber production in Turkey is second place after tomato in protected vegetable cultivation. Fertilization is important to increase yield and quality of cucumber. To determine the plant nutritional status by quick test techniques and to make the necessary adjustments in fertilization program immediately, is important. To determine the nutritional status of the plant N, the determination of the amount of petiole sap NO3-N as a quick and easy method, has become widespread in recent years. This research was carried out to determine the relationship between the petiole sap NO3-N content and the N compounds of soil and leaf for indicating N status of cucumber. Plant (petiole, leaf) and soil samples were taken at first blossom and harvest periods. Ion meters and test strips were used to determine the amount of NO3-N in petiole extract. Total N and NO3-N in leaves and organic matter, NO3-N and total N values in soil were determined. It was found that there were significant correlations between NO3-N determined by selective ion meter in petiole extract with total N and NO3-N content of leaf and soil NO3-N in two sampling periods. The important relationship between NO3-N determined by test strips of petiole sap and soil NO3-N was observed in both sampling periods. Since the relationship between the petiole sap nitrate content measured with selective ion meter and the leaf total N is very significant in both periods, it can be considered as an indication of rapid test technique which can be used to determine the N content of the plant in the protected cucumber cultivation.

Keywords

• Cucumber
• Petiole sap analysis
• Nitrate
• Selective ionmeter
• Test strips