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Investigating the Possibility of Replacing Imported Cocopeat Substrate with Pomedia Mineral Substrate Under Different Levels of Superabsorbent Nanopolymers in Greenhouse Cucumbers
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Zahra Maghsoudi   , Edris Shabani , Naser Alemzadeh Ansari |
| Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz |
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Abstract: (191 Views) |
Given the limitations of water resources and the decline in soil quality, the adoption of alternative cultivation methods combined with optimized management of plant growth substrate is an effective strategy for enhancing the yield and quality of agricultural products. In this context, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted during the autumn and winter of 2022 in the greenhouse of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of a superabsorbent nanopolymer and three different growth substrate on the growth, yield, quality, and physiological indices of greenhouse cucumber, as well as on the leaching fraction of the growth media. The treatments consisted of three growth substrate (Cocopeat+perlite, Pumice, and Pumedia) and three levels of the superabsorbent nanopolymer (0, 3, and 6 g L-1 of substrate). The results showed that increasing the superabsorbent nanopolymer level in the cocopeat+perlite and pumedia substrate reduced the quantitative and qualitative indices of greenhouse cucumber, whereas in the pumice substrate, these indices improved with increasing superabsorbent nanopolymer levels. The interaction between growth substrate and superabsorbent nanopolymer revealed that the highest and lowest leaf areas were observed in cocopeat+perlite without superabsorbent (13980 cm²) and cocopeat+perlite with 6 g L-1 superabsorbent nanopolymer (7239 cm²), respectively. In the pumice medium, increasing superabsorbent nanopolymer levels improved growth and photosynthetic conditions, while no significant difference in photosynthesis was observed between the cocopeat+perlite and pumedia substrate at the zero superabsorbent nanopolymer level. In pumedia without superabsorbent nanopolymer, yield increased by 19.36% compared to pomedia with 6 g L-1 superabsorbent nanopolymer. The highest and lowest water use efficiencies were recorded in pumedia without superabsorbent and cocopeat+perlite with 6 g L-1 superabsorbent nanopolymer, respectively. The interaction between growth substrate and superabsorbent nanopolymer also indicated that the highest leaching fraction occurred in pumice without superabsorbent nanopolymer (25.62%), while the lowest was in pumedia with 6 g L-1 superabsorbent nanopolymer (11.93%). Based on the results, pumedia had a greater influence on nitrogen uptake in cucumber leaves than on phosphorus and potassium uptake. According to the results, the superabsorbent nanopolymer had no beneficial effects on plant growth in cocopeat+perlite and pomedia substrates, while it improved yield in pumice substrate, indicating a positive interaction between the substrate and the superabsorbent nanopolymer. The findings of this experiment showed that the best growth and yield indices were achieved in cocopeat+perlite and pumedia without superabsorbent nanopolymer, as well as in pumice with 6 g L-1 superabsorbent nanopolymer. Based on the results, it is recommended to use the pumedia growth substrate without superabsorbent nanopolymer, followed by the pumice medium with superabsorbent nanopolymer, as an economical and efficient alternative to the expensive imported cocopeat substrate, which leads to capital outflow from the country.
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| Keywords: Cultivation substrate, Hydroponics, Nutrition, Water use efficiency, Yield |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Greenhouse crops
Received: 2025/10/17 | Accepted: 2025/12/30 | Published: 2026/05/16
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