EFFECT OF VARIOUS SUBSTRATE MIXTURES AND CONTAINER VOLUMES ON THE QUALITY OF GREENHOUSE PROPAGATED CUCUMBER, MELON AND WATERMELON TRANSPLANTS.

The effect of six substrate mixtures 1) peat + perlite (M1), 2) Peat +
Vermiculite (M2), 3) Peat + Sand (M3), 4) Peat + Perlite + vermiculite (M4), 5) Peat +
Perlite + Sand (M5), and 6) Peat + vermiculite + Sand (M6) and three container
volumes (100cm³, 65cm³ and 35cm³) on the quality of cucumber, melon and
watermelon transplants was studied through the two seasons 1999 and 2000. Results
showed that M3 mixture was generally similar to, if not better than, M2 mixture for its
effect on transplant growth. The two media followed by M6 significantly increased
shoot height, leaf area, shoot FW and OW, root FW and OW and root length, for the
three crops under investigation. The mixture M1 produced the least transplant growth:
Results also showed that container with the largest volume presented the best results
for all tested growth parameters. The best transplant quality in terms of shoot height,
leaf area, shoot FW and OW, root length and root FW and OW was obtained with
100cm³ containers compared with 65cm³ and 35cm³. Cucumber and melon
transplants derived from 100cm³ cells had 2 times and watermelon had almost 1.7
times jlreater shoot OW than those derived from 35cm³ cells. In general containers of
100cm in combination with M3 or M2 followed by M6 produced the best transplant
growth. Transplant grown in M3 had the highest level of N in cucumber and melon,
and the highest level of K, Fe, Mn in watermelon. It was also noted that the larger the
container, volume, the higher the concentrations of most nutrients in cucumber, melon
and watermelon transplants.