The Potential of Soilless Culture Systems in Producing Tomato and Cucumber under Greenhouse Conditions

Aims: Assess The sustainable production of tomato and cucumber under greenhouse conditions for meeting the challenges of natural resources shortage, food security and economic.

Study Design: Two experiments performed in complete randomized blocks with three replicates.

Place and Duration of Study: Central Laboratory for Agriculture Climate (CLAC), Agriculture Research Center, Egypt, during two autumn seasons of 2018 and 2019 (tomato) and two spring seasons of 2019 and 2020 (cucumber).

Methodology: Different soilless culture systems for producing tomato and cucumber under greenhouse were investigated: Hydroponic systems (Nutrient film technique (NFT) and deep flow technique (DFT)); and substrate systems (Dutch bucket, pot, container, and horizontal bag). Vegetative characteristics, yield parameters, N, P, and K contents, and environmental impact assessment were measured.

Results: Substrate systems gave the highest vegetative growth characteristics, yield parameters, N, P and K contents of tomato and cucumber leaves, as well as the highest power use efficiencies compared to hydroponic systems. Container and bags systems gave the highest results of tomato and cucumber vegetative growth, respectively, but the highest yield and net profits records belonged to bags and pots respectively. Bags substrate system gave the highest net profit yield (10.1Kg/ plant and 21881 LE / greenhouse) of tomato plant under plastic house followed by container system that presented the highest yield (10.6 Kg/ plant) but the total cost mainly substrate cost contributed to reduce its net profit yield. While for the highest yield and net profit of cucumber, the pots system (8.1Kg/ plant and 13243 LE / greenhouse) followed container system (7.65Kg/ plant and 9045 LE / greenhouse) and bags system (7.15Kg/ plant and 10270 LE / greenhouse) were recommended. The lowest yield, the highest average power use, cost and efficiency and lowest total cost were estimated by NFT system in both of tomato and cucumber investigations.

Conclusion: The substrate systems presented more sustainability for tomato and cucumber production under plastichouse conditions. Bags substrate system gave the highest net profit yield of tomato plant under plastic house followed by container system that presented the highest yield but the total cost mainly substrate cost contributed to reduce its net profit yield. While for the highest yield and net profit of cucumber, the pots system followed container system and bags system were recommended. The lowest yield, the highest average power use, cost and efficiency and lowest total cost were estimated by NFT system in both of tomato and cucumber investigations.