Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Oana Alina NIŢU, Elena Ștefania IVAN, Ionuț Ovidiu JERCA, Nicoleta Daniela SÂRBU
Food security has become an increasingly pressing global challenge, especially with the continuous growth of the world population and the reduction of arable land due to urbanization. Greenhouses, as controlled environments, provide an ideal framework for improving crop production and quality. Hydroponics is an intensive method of agricultural production that offers advanced environmental protection and increased food safety control. Cucumber production is one of the most successful crops in hydroponic systems. The study was conducted in the Automated Research Greenhouse at the Research Center for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, focusing on the cultivation of the long-fruited cucumber hybrid Peloton. The crop was established in the first cycle using a soilless cultivation system with perlite-filled mats (4 mm diameter). This system serves as an alternative to greenhouse cucumber cultivation. Three fertigation rates of 4 L/day, 3.6 L/day, and 3.2 L/day were employed. The main objective of the study is to identify the most efficient variant
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