Irrigation and fertilizer management effects on processing cucumber productivity and water use efficiency

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of processing cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to irrigation and fertilization strategies on a loamy sand in southwestern Ontario from 2001 to 2003. Dry matter accumulation, fruit yield, economic returns and water use efficiency were compared for (a) non-irrigated with conventional broadcast fertilizer applications (NI/B), (b) overhead sprinkler irrigated with conventional broadcast fertilizer applications (OHI/B), (c) surface drip irrigated with fertigation (DI/F) and (d) subsurface drip irrigated with fertigation (SDI/F). All irrigation methods enhanced yields, with drip irrigation coupled with fertigation showing significant advantages in terms of yield and economic returns compared with overhead irrigation and conventional fertilization practices. Irrigation increased dry matter accumulation, fruit yield and economic returns over non-irrigated treatments in a dry year, but only DI/F and SDI/F irrigation with fertigation increased these parameters in a wet year. Irrigation water use efficiency was greatest with SDI/F in 2 of 3 yr. This study indicates that processing cucumbers in Ontario benefit from irrigation, with drip irrigation/fertigation being more beneficial than overhead sprinkler irrigation. Subsurface drip irrigation systems increase irrigation water use efficiency over sprinkler and surface drip systems when higher than average temperatures coupled with lower than average rainfall are experienced on coarse-textured soils. Key words: Irrigation, fertigation, Cucumis sativus, yield