Seasonal temperatures have more influence than nitrogen fertilizer rates on cucumber yield and nitrogen uptake in a double cropping system.
Two-year greenhouse cucumber experiments were conducted to investigate seasonal effects on fruit yield, dry matter allocation, and N uptake in a double-cropping system with different fertilizer management. Seasonal effects were much greater than fertilizer effects, and winter-spring (WS) cucumber attained higher fruit yields and N uptake than autumn-winter (AW) cucumber due to lower cumulative air temperatures during fruit maturation in the AW season. Fertilizer N application and apparent N loss under recommended N management (Nmr) decreased by 40-78% and 33-48% without yield loss compared to conventional N management (Nmt) over four growing seasons. However, there were no seasonal differences in N recommendations, taking into consideration seasonal differences in crop N demand, critical nutrient supply in the root zone and N mineralization rate.
Guo
Ruiying
R
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Li
Xiaolin
X
Christie
Peter
P
Chen
Qing
Q
Zhang
Fusuo
F
D018533:Biomass; D002681:China; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000254:growth & development*; D005308:Fertilizers; D009584:Nitrogen; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature
D005308:Fertilizers; D009584:Nitrogen