Journal of Agriculture
and Environmental Sciences

Development of Treated Rice Husk as an Alternative Substrate Medium in Cucumber Soilless Culture
Haytham Mohamed El Sharkawi, Mohamed Abdrabbo Ahmed, Mosaad Kotb Hassanein

Abstract
The performance and suitability of different substrates for the soilless culture of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv.Bringy) were studied over a two growing seasons under greenhouse condition employing five different substrates [V:V, 3treated rice husk by composting (TRH): 1 biochar(B) derived from pyrolysis of rice husk, 3 TRH: 1 coir dust (CD), 3TRH: 1 Hundzsoil (HS), 3TRH: 1 fine sand and TRH only]. The results showed that there were significantly differences in fruit yield and growth parameters between the substrates. Media containing 3TRH: 1B led to a significant increase in fruit yield and most of physiochemical characteristics and growth parameters of cucumber plant as compared with the other growth media. It was concluded that the medium containing treated rice husk and Biochar had the best performance for cucumber plant growth as a local growing media due to the superior of its physiochemical characteristics while keeping stability to continue the growth and fruit production for a long season.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v3n4a10