RESPONSE OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS .L) TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NPK FERTILIZERS UNDER SOILLESS CULTURE

An experiment was laid out at Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Ressources, Al Rabiya, Kuwait under protected condition to evaluate the response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus. L) to different levels of NPK fertilizers under soilless culture. The effect of neem insecticides and Pseudomonas against the control of insects and diseases were also studied. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized design with four treatments and five replications. The crop was planted at a spacing of 50 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows. Fertilizer as well as irrigation was given through drip system. Application of optimum level of inorganic fertilizers is highly essential to meet the entire nutrient requirement of the crop when soil less cultivation is adopted. Results of trials conducted during  three years 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and  2008-2009 at Al-Rabiya in Kuwait revealed that the treatments receiving NPK fertilizers in the form of Kristalone @ 2.5, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g/plant/week has given the highest yield of 327.43 t/ha. The lowest yield was recorded by the treatment which received fertilizers @ 5.0,7.5,10 and 12.5 g/plant/week. It has been well established that the applied inorganic fertilizers not only increased the growth of the plants but also increased the yield. It is also proved that using perlite as a growing media in soilless culture has definitely prevented  the incidence of pests and diseases attack due to less involvement of harmful  microorganisms as experienced in soil culture.