Key Takeaways:
- Study identifies the most efficient irrigation schedule for cucumbers grown in coconut coir within a solar greenhouse.
- Three irrigation methods were compared: soil moisture sensor-based (T-VWC), accumulated radiation and soil moisture sensor-based (Rn-VWC), and crop evapotranspiration estimated method (T-ETc).
- T-ETc method resulted in the lowest daily irrigation and evapotranspiration but maintained stable substrate water content and yielded the highest irrigation water productivity (IWP).
- Although T-VWC and Rn-VWC treatments showed higher growth indices, they did not significantly impact cucumber yield compared to T-ETc.
- The T-ETc treatment significantly reduced total irrigation amount by up to 34.04% and increased IWP by 44.33% compared to T-VWC.
Optimizing Irrigation for Sustainable Agriculture
Precise irrigation scheduling is crucial in the quest for sustainable agricultural practices, especially in cultivating substrate-grown vegetables. Li et al. (2024) embarked on a study to pinpoint the optimal irrigation schedule for cucumbers grown in coconut coir within solar greenhouses, focusing on high yield and water efficiency.
Methodological Approach and Findings
The study meticulously compared three irrigation schedules: T-VWC (soil moisture sensor-based), Rn-VWC (accumulated radiation with soil moisture sensor-based), and T-ETc (crop evapotranspiration estimated using the PM-ETo equation with refined Kc calculation). The evaluation criteria included daily irrigation, evapotranspiration rates, substrate water content, crop growth indices, cucumber yield, and irrigation water productivity (IWP).
Results revealed that the T-ETc method minimized daily irrigation and evapotranspiration amounts while ensuring stable substrate water content, unlike the T-VWC or Rn-VWC treatments. Interestingly, while the T-VWC and Rn-VWC methods led to greater plant height, leaf number, leaf area, and stem diameter, these advantages did not translate into a significant increase in cucumber yield compared to the T-ETc treatment.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
The economic and environmental implications of these findings are significant. By adopting the T-ETc irrigation schedule, growers can achieve substantial water savings—up to 34.04% compared to the T-VWC method—without compromising yield. Most notably, the IWP under the T-ETc treatment showed a remarkable increase of 44.33% over the T-VWC method, highlighting the potential for greater water productivity in cucumber cultivation.
Read the complete study here.
