Criteria of Nitrate Concentration in Soil Solution and Leaf Petiole Juice for Fertigation of Cucumber under Greenhouse Cultivation in Gyeonggi region

To develop a technique for efficient management of fertility for cucumber in greenhouse, a quick test method to quantify nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) content in soil solution and leaf petiole juice using a simple instrument that are easy to use for farmers was investigated. N fertilizer (urea) was applied at 0, 50, 100 and 200% levels of the recommended application rate from 30 days after transplanting to harvest by soil fertigation treatments. Stable results were obtained from analysis of nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) using top $10^{th}$ or $11^{th}$ leaf petioles collected between 10 to 11 am in the morning. Under the semiforcing culture, $NO_3{^-}$ content of leaf petiole juice was highest at 60 days after transplanting (DAT) at all fertigation treatments. Appropriate $NO_3{^-}$content of leaf petiole juice was $2,418{\pm}78{\sim}2,668{\pm}118$ at 45 DAT, $3,032{\pm}90{\sim}3,332{\pm}63$ at 60 DAT, $2,709{\pm}50{\sim}3,158{\pm}155$ at 75 DAT, $2,535{\pm}49{\sim}2,907{\pm}83$ at 90 DAT, and $2,242{\pm}48mg\;L^{-1}$ at 105 DAT. In addition, appropriate $NO_3{^-}$ content of soil solution was $167{\pm}9{\sim}212{\pm}15$ at 45 DAT, $83{\pm}10{\sim}112{\pm}12$ at 60 DAT, $49{\pm}3{\sim}92{\pm}6$ at 75 DAT, $71{\pm}9{\sim}103{\pm}9$ at 90 DAT, and $73{\pm}9mg\;L^{-1}$ at 105 DAT. The cucumber yield at 100% N level of fertigation was $7,770kg\;10a^{-1}$ and no difference in yield was found at 200% N level of fertigation. However, there was 12% decrease in yield at 50% N fertigation and, 17% decrease at 0% N fertigation. Under retarding culture, $NO_3{^-}$ concentration of leaf petiole juice was highest at 55 days after transplanting (DAT) at all fertigation treatments. Appropriate $NO_3{^-}$ content of leaf petiole juice was $2,464{\pm}102{\sim}2,651{\pm}33$ at 45 DAT, $3,025{\pm}71{\sim}3,314{\pm}84$ at 55 DAT and $2,488{\pm}92mg\;L^{-1}$ at 65 DAT, respectively. Appropriate $NO_3{^-}$ content of soil solution was $111{\pm}10{\sim}155{\pm}14$ at 45 DAT, $93{\pm}7{\sim}147{\pm}14$ at 55 DAT, $67{\pm}4mg\;L^{-1}$at 65 DAT, respectively. The cucumber yield at 50% N fertigation was not different from $1,697kg\;10a^{-1}$ of 100% N fertigation level and even with that of the 200% N fertigation. However, there was 21% decrease in yield at 0% N fertigation.