Comparing Potassium Sulphate and Chloride In Quality Characteristics of Cucumber Fruits Under Protected Conditions and Drip IrRigation

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted at fall season of 2003/2004 under heated plastic house conditions and drip irrigation belongs to AL-Meqdadiya company for Agricultural Materials company at AL-Yousifiya district situated south of Baghdad in a silty clay loam texture soil (Typic Torrifluvent) , classified as (MM4) (at the series Level) to study the effect of potassium sulphate 41% K and potassium chloride 50% K fertilizers on quality characteristics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), Shoa'a cv. Six levels that were (0, 100, 125, 250, 500 and 1000)kg.K.ha-1 of both K-sulphate (41%K) and K-chloride (50% K) were used as sources. The randomized Complete Block Design was used with three replicates . Results showed that the potassium sulphate had the superiority for all studied characteristics for cucumber fruits (fruit hardness , contenent of vitamin C and (T.S.S)) . Result also showed that the increasing of the data for all studied characteristics with increasing the levels of both potassium fertilizers . The level of 1000 kg K.ha-1 had significant data for all above mentioned characteristics and for both two fertilizers and this level gave the highest data compared with other levels that were 3.65 and 3.63 kg .cm-2 , 8.91 and 8.89 mg . 100 ml-1 juice and 2.83 and 3.81) % for fruit hardness, content of vitamin C and TSS respectively for potassium sulphate and potassium chloride respectively , while the data were 3.22 kg .cm-2 for fruit hardness, 8.27 mg .100 ml-1 juice for content of vitamin C and 2.35% for T.S.S for control treatment .