Commercial Yield and Quality of Fruits of Cucumber Plants Cultivated under Greenhouse Conditions: Response to Increases in Nitrogen Fertilization

Rates of nitrogen application were studied in relation to commercial yield and fruit quality of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Bunex). All plants were grown under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Treatments consisted of the application of N as KNO3 (N1, 2.5 g m-2; N2, 5 g m-2; N3, 10 g m-2; N4, 20 g m-2; and N5, 40 g m-2). The fruits of cucumber from the N3 and N4 treatments were best for human consumption and economic profit. These N application rates encouraged a good relationship between commercial yield and fruit quality. The N5 rate resulted in low commercial production and low quality; the fruit had the greatest NO3 and the least Ca concentrations, which diminished firmness of the fruit. Finally, the N1 and N2 rates produced poor yield and poor commercial quality.