Crop Guide: Plant Care & Fertigation

Index

1. Open-field using granular N-P-K fertilizers
2. Open-field using fully water soluble N-P-K fertilizers and fertigation setup
3. Nutrigation™ (fertigation)*
4. Greenhouse and tunnels
5. Nutrigation™ (fertigation) – by QUANTITIVE* delivery
6. Nutrigation™ (fertigation) – by PROPORTIONAL* delivery
7. Soilless grown
8. Haifa NutriNet™ web software for Nutrigation™ programs
9. Open-field grown cucumbers on loam (medium) texture soil
10. Open-field grown cucumbers, for processing, on clay (heavy) texture soil
11. Tunnel grown cucumbers on loam (medium) texture soil
12. Greenhouse grown cucumbers on sandy (light) texture soil

5.1 Fertilizers recommendations for a variety of growth conditions

5.1.1 Open-field using granular N-P-K fertilizers

Plant density: 30,000 – 40,000 / ha

Expected yield: 25 – 35 ton / ha

Pre-plant application

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0)

SSP = Single Super Phosphate (0-20-0)

SOP = Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50)

*CaO = may be required if soil and water are low in calcium

Side dressing

Table 5.1: Nutrients demand and recommended fertilizers for side-dressing of open-field cucumbers

*2 applications of 275 kg/ha each, at 10 days interval.

5.1.2 Open-field using fully water soluble N-P-K fertilizers and fertigation setup

Plant density: 30,000 – 40,000 / ha

Expected yield: 40 – 50 ton / ha

When fields are equipped with fertigation setup, Nutrigation™ (fertigation) is recommended (for details see the relevant paragraph on page 21). When fertilizers are properly soil applied and Nutrigated, the expected yield may be increased by app. 80% as compared to the application of granular fertilizers, to around 40 – 50 t/ha.

Pre-plant application

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0), SSP = Single Super Phosphate (0-20-0),

SOP = Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50),

CaO = may be required if soil and water are low in calcium.

Nutrigation™ (fertigation)*

Table 5.2: Nutrients demand and recommended fertilizers for Nutrigation™ of open-field cucumbers

*The fertilizers should be applied every 1 – 2 irrigation cycles.

Multi-K™ = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46),

Haifa MAP™ = Mono-ammonium Phosphate, technical grade (12-61-0),

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0),

Magnisal™ = Magnesium nitrate (11-0-0-16MgO)

CaO = may be required if soil and water are low in calcium.

5.1.3 Greenhouse and tunnels

A – Soil grown

Plant density: 18,000 – 24,000 / ha

Expected yield: 120 – 150 ton / ha

CaO = may be required if soil and water are low in calcium

Pre-plant application

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0), SSP = Single Super Phosphate (0-20-0),

SOP = Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50),

CaO = may be required if soil and water are low in calcium.

i. Nutrigation™ (fertigation) – by QUANTITIVE* delivery

Table 5.3: Nutrients demand and recommended fertilizers for quantitative Nutrigation™ of soil-grown, greenhouse cucumbers

*The application rate is based and a quantity per area regardless of the concentration in the irrigated water.

The fertilizers should be applied every 1-2 irrigation cycles.

Multi-K™ = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46),

Haifa MAP™ = Mono-ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0),

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0),

Magnisal™ = Magnesium nitrate (11-0-0-16MgO)

Calcium

In case of soils low in calcium this plant nutrient should be applied from fruit-set until the end of harvest. Rates should be adjusted according to the concentration in the soil and irrigation water.

Total requirement rate = 2–4 kg/ha/day CaO, which can be applied as 11.5 kg/ha/day of Haifa Cal™ 15.5-0-0-26CaO.

ii. Nutrigation™ (fertigation) – by PROPORTIONAL* delivery

Table 5.4: Nutrients demand and recommended fertilizers for proportional Nutrigation™ of soil-grown, greenhouse cucumbers

*The concentration of applied plant nutrients is unchanged and is constant during the entire irrigation cycle.

The fertilizers should be applied every 1 – 2 irrigation cycles

Multi-K™ = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46),

Haifa MAP™ = Mono-ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0),

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0),

Magnisal™ = Magnesium nitrate (11-0-0-16MgO)

CaO may be required if soil and water are low in calcium.

B - Soilless grown

Cucumber can be grown in greenhouses on soilless media, such as perlite, Rockwool, peat, etc. When growing cucumbers on soilless media, special care must be taken in monitoring the nutrients that the crop receives, as there is no soil to compensate for the spent nutrients.

The following factors should be taken in account:

• pH: The pH in the nutrient solution should be maintained at 5.5 – 6.5. The pH can be lowered by the use of acids. Adjustment of pH levels can be accomplished by slight changes in nitrate/ammonium ratio in the nutrient solution.
• Electrical Conductivity (EC): The EC of the nutrient solution and the root zone should not exceed 2.2 and 3.0 dS/m, respectively. The difference between the EC of the nutrient solution and the drain water should not exceed 1.5 – 2.0 dS/m (depending on the properties of the water supply).
• Nitrate (NO3): The level of nitrate in the drain water should be 200 – 300 ppm depending on the nitrate level, which changes according the growth stage.
• 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 root functioning.
• Ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4): high level of either ammonia or ammonium interferes with the ability of the roots to absorb K.

Figure 5.1: Crop Load on Beit Alpha Cucumber (cv. Sarig), in greenhouse cucumbers.

Table 5.5: Nutrition database for greenhouse-grown cucumbers under Dutch growing conditions:

*in old leaves

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

Important note: The above-mentioned database was prepared to fit Dutch conditions. Minor modifications may be required to correspond to your local conditions.

Table 5.6: Fertigation of soilless grown cucumbers during establishment to flowering stage

* 80-90% as NO3^-, 10-20% as NH4⁺

**Based on content in irrigation water 100 ppm Ca and 20 ppm Mg.

Table 5.7: Soilless fertigation of cucumbers during fruit-set to production stage

* 80-90% as NO3-, 10-20% as NH4+

** Based on content in irrigation water 100 ppm Ca and 20 ppm Mg.

Multi-K™ = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46),

Haifa MKP™ = Mono Potassium Phosphate (0-52-34),

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0),

Haifa Cal™ = Calcium Nitrate (15.5-0-0-26CaO)

Magnisal™ = Magnesium nitrate (11-0-0-16MgO)

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

5.2 Haifa NutriNet™ web software for Nutrigation™ programs

Use the NutriNet™ web software, accessible through our website or directly

at www.haifa-nutrinet.com to assist you in working out the recommended fertilizer rates at different growth stages according to the expected yield under your growing conditions.

The following are examples of recommendations for cucumbers grown in different soils and growing methods, as determined by NutriNet™:

A – Open-field grown cucumbers on loam (medium) texture soil

The expected yield is 40 t/ha. Irrigated by drip and the fertilizer application method is:base-dressing followed by side-dressing.

At the first stage, NutriNet™ presents the removed plant nutrients by the crop and the recommended application rates based on the expected yield and the selected growing method (Table 5.8):

• Growth method: Open field
• Soil type: loam
• Expected yield: 40 t/ha

Table 5.8: Nutrient requirements and recommended plant nutrient rates of cucumbers grown in loam soil with expected yield of 40 t/ha

The next step allows selecting the methods of irrigation and fertilization. In the following example, the irrigation is by drip system and the fertilization by applying base-dressing followed by side-dressing (Tables 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11).

Table 5.9: Recommended base-dressing + side-dressing plant nutrient rates on irrigated crop by drip

*The values in this field take into account the inefficiency factors involved in base- and side-dressings.

Table 5.10: Suggested base-dressing fertilizers* rates to supply the recommended plant nutrients at expected yield of 40 t/ha cucumbers. The N-P-K-Ca-Mg are applied at 30-60-40-80-80%, respectively.

*Other fertilizers of choice may be introduced to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

Table 5.11: Suggested side-dressing fertilizers* rates to supply the recommended plant nutrients at

*Other fertilizers of choice may be exchanged to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

B – Open-field grown cucumbers, for processing, on clay (heavy) texture soil

The expected yield is 80 t/ha. Irrigated by drip and the fertilizer application method is:

base-dressing followed by Nutrigation™ (fertigation).

• Growth method: Open field
• Soil type: clay
• Expected yield: 80 t/ha

Table 5.12: Nutrient requirements and recommended plant nutrient rates of cucumbers, grown on clay soil with expected yield of 80 t/ha

The next step allows selecting the type of irrigation and fertilization method. In the following example, the irrigation is by drip system followed by Nutrigation™ (fertigation) (Tables 5.13, 5.14, 5.15, 5.16 and 5.17).

Table 5.13: Recommended base-dressing and side-dressing plant nutrient rates on cucumbers crop irrigated by drip

* The N-P-K-Ca-Mg are applied at 30-60-40-80-80%, respectively.

** The N-P-K-Ca-Mg are applied at 70-40-60-20-20%, respectively.

***The values in this field take into account the efficiency involved in base dressings + Nutrigation™.

Table 5.14: Suggested base-dressing fertilizers* rates to supply the recommended plant nutrients

*Other fertilizers of choice may be introduced to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

Table 5.15: Suggested Nutrigation™ fertilizers* rates supplying the recommended plant nutrients at expected yield of 80 t/ha

*Other fertilizers of choice may be introduced to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

Table 5.16: Plant nutrients distribution at the various growing stages by fertigation

*The values in this fields take into account the efficiency involved in Nutrigation™.

A.N. = Ammonium nitrate (34%)

Haifa MAP™ = MAP (12-61-0)

Multi-K™ = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46)

C.N. = Calcium nitrate (26% CaO)

Mg (SO4)2 = Magnesium sulfate (16% MgO)

C – Tunnel grown cucumbers on loam (medium) texture soil

The expected yield is 120 t/ha. Irrigated by drip and the fertilizer application method is by based dressing followed by Nutrigation™ (fertigation).

• Growth method: Tunnel
• Soil type: loam
• Expected yield: 120 t/ha

Table 5.18: Nutrient requirements and recommended plant nutrient rates of cucumbers grown in clay soil with expected yield of 120 t/ha

The next step allows selecting the type of irrigation and fertilization method. In the following example, the irrigation is by drip system also used for Nutrigation™ (fertigation) (Tables 5.19, 5.20, 5.21, 5.22 and 5.23).

Table 5.19: Recommended base-dressing and side-dressing plant nutrient rates on cucumber crop

* The N-P-K-Ca-Mg are applied at 30-60-40-80-80%, respectively.

** The N-P-K-Ca-Mg are applied at 70-40-60-20-20%, respectively.

***The values in this field take into account the efficiency involved in base dressings + Nutrigation™.

Table 5.20: Suggested base-dressing fertilizer* rates to supply the recommended plant nutrients

*Other fertilizers of choice may be introduced to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

Table 5.21: Suggested Nutrigation™ fertilizer* rates supplying the recommended plant nutrients at expected yield of 120 t/ha

*Other fertilizers of choice may be introduced to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

Table 5.22: Fertigation rates of plant nutrients at the various growing stages

Table 5.23: Suggested fertigation fertilizers rates at various growing stages of tunnel grown cucumbers

A.N. = Ammonium nitrate (34%)

Haifa MAP™ = MAP (12-61-0)

Multi-K™ = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46)

C.N. = Calcium nitrate (26% CaO)

Mg (SO4)2 = Magnesium sulfate (16% MgO)

D – Greenhouse grown cucumbers on sandy (light) texture soil

The expected yield is 300 t/ha. Irrigated by drippers that serve also for fertilizer application by Nutrigation™ (fertigation).

• Growth method: Greenhouse
• Soil type: sandy
• Expected yield: 300 t/ha

Table 5.24: Nutrient requirements and recommended plant nutrient rates of cucumbers grown in sandy soil with expected yield of 300 t/ha

The next step allows selecting the irrigation and fertilization methods. In the following example, the irrigation is by drip system that is also used for Nutrigation™ (fertigation) (Tables 5.25, 5.26, 5.27 and 5.28).

Table 5.25: Recommended nutrients rates applied by Nutrigation™

Table 5.26: Suggested fertilizer* rates supplying the recommended plant nutrients at expected yield of 300 t/ha

*Other fertilizers of choice may be introduced to supply the recommended plant nutrients.

Table 5.27: Plant nutrient fertigation rates at the various growth stages

Table 5.28: Suggested fertigation fertilizers rates at the various growth stages of greenhouse-grown cucumbers