Wood Vinegar and Seaweed Fertilizer Increase Greenhouse Cucumber Yield

Introduction

Cucumber (*Cucumis sativus L.*) is an important greenhouse vegetable, and improving its growth and yield is crucial for sustainable agriculture. A study conducted at Mersin University, Turkey, investigated the effects of seaweed fertilizer and wood vinegar applications on cucumber nutrient uptake, biomass accumulation, and yield.

Experimental Design and Application

The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse using the Flora F1 cucumber variety. Five treatment groups were established:

  • Control (C) – No treatment applied.
  • SW – Seaweed fertilizer applied to soil.
  • WDV – Wood vinegar applied to soil.
  • SW+WDV(S) – Combined application of seaweed and wood vinegar to soil.
  • SW+WDV(S+F) – Combined application of seaweed and wood vinegar to both soil and leaves.

Wood vinegar was diluted to a 0.5% solution, and seaweed fertilizer was applied at a concentration of 5 ml dm⁻³. These treatments were applied every ten days, three times for potted plants and six times for field-grown plants.

Key Findings

Plant Growth and Biomass Accumulation

  • The SW+WDV(S+F) treatment resulted in the highest number of leaves (19.00 per plant) compared to the control (13.78 per plant).
  • Stem diameter was significantly increased, reaching 6.48 mm in SW+WDV(S+F), while the control had the lowest value of 4.91 mm.
  • SW+WDV(S+F) also led to the longest main stem (58.31 cm) and the greatest root length (35.1 cm), surpassing the control (41.22 cm and 26.8 cm, respectively).
  • Fresh root weight was highest in SW+WDV(S+F) (5.08 g) compared to the control (2.29 g), and a similar trend was observed for dry root weight.

Yield Improvement

  • Early yield was highest in the SW+WDV(S+F) group, achieving 1.87 kg per plant, which was a 27.2% increase over the control.
  • Total yield per plant reached 5.38 kg in SW+WDV(S+F), significantly exceeding the control's 3.83 kg.
  • The SW+WDV(S+F) treatment increased total fresh biomass by 50.1% and dry biomass by 37.5% relative to the control.

Nutrient Uptake

  • The highest nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) concentrations were observed in SW+WDV(S+F), surpassing the control by 28.85% for N, 81.08% for P, and 59.88% for K.
  • Micronutrients such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were also significantly increased in the SW+WDV(S+F) treatment compared to the control.

Implications

The study demonstrated that combining seaweed fertilizer with wood vinegar, particularly when applied to both soil and foliage, significantly enhances cucumber growth, biomass accumulation, and yield. The synergistic effects of these organic amendments suggest that they improve nutrient uptake and may contribute to disease suppression. This approach offers an effective strategy for improving greenhouse cucumber production, particularly in organic farming systems.

Article based on: Effects of seaweed fertilizer and wood vinegar on nutrient uptake, plant growth, and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) grown in a greenhouse