Study Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management and Foliar Spraying of Marine Plant Ascophyllum nodosum Extract on Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

ABSTRACT: In order to study effects of nitrogen fertilizer management and foliar spraying of marine plant Ascophyllum nodosum extract on yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) an experiment during farming year 2011, in Lahijan township (Guilan province of Iran) in factorial format based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was conducted. Factors of experiment were consisting of foliar spraying of marine plant Ascophyllum nodosum extract with two levels (A1: control and A2: 2 g/liter foliar spraying) and nitrogen fertilizer management in four levels (N1: control, N2: 100, N3: 200 and N4: 300 kg/ha pure nitrogen from source of urea (46% pure nitrogen) chemical fertilizer). Studied traits were include fruit yield, fruit length and fruit width. Based on results of experiment, the effects of foliar spraying with marine plant Ascophyllum nodosum extract on all studied traits showed significant differences at 1% probability level. Also, nitrogen fertilizer management on fruit yield and fruit width on 1% and on fruit length at 5% probability level was significant. Interaction effect levels of A. nodosum extract and nitrogen fertilizer on fruit yield at 1% and on fruit length at 5% was significant. On the other hand, on fruit width was non significant. Among A. nodosum extract foliar spraying levels the highest fruit yield was recorded from 2 g/liter foliar spraying. Between nitrogen fertilizer management levels the maximum fruit yield was obtained from 300 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer application.