EFFECT OF SILICON AND HUMIC SUBSTANCES ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND ABSORPTION OF MINERALS IN CUCUMBER

Abstract

Objective: This work is to evaluate the effect of potassium silicate and humic substances to mitigate salt stress in cucumber grown in greenhouse.

Design/methodology/approach: The design that was used was a completely randomized with factorial arrangement. The first factor is the varieties of cucumber (Var); Induran (I) and SV2516 (SV), the second factor is potassium silicate (Si) with doses 0, 10, 20 mL·^L-1 and the third factor is humic substances (SH) with doses 0, 10, 20 kg / ha.

Results: The results showed that the best interaction was SV * SH20 for the NFP and Rend variables. In the fruit content of N and Ca it was I * SH10 and in K and P it was SV * Si20, for the rest of the minerals such as Mg, Fe and Cu the interactions that stood out were SV * Si10, SV * Si20 and I * Si10 respectively. The best interaction in sheet mineral content was I * SH20 in N, SV * SH10 for P and K, and SV * Si20 for Cu.

Study limitations/implications: There was no significant difference in Ca, Mg and Fe minerals in leaf.

Findings/conclusions: At least one of the interactions of cultivars and doses of biostimulants favored agronomic variables, quality and mineral absorption in fruit.

Key words:  Salt stress, humic substances, potassium silicate.