The Effect of Irrigation Methods on the Yield of Pickling Cucumber

The effects of drip irrigation combined with fertigation and sprinkler irrigation combined with broadcast fertilisation on the yield of pickling cucumber were compared in an experiment carried out over three years. The control treatment was broadcast fertilised and did not receive any irrigation.

For the three years, on average, no difference in the yields of cucumber was found between sprinkler and drip irrigated plants; however, in one year the yield of the drip irrigated crop was higher. The percentage of fruit of pickling size was higher and the non-marketable yield lower when cucumber plants were drip irrigated. Drip irrigation was more efficient than sprinkler irrigation. Irrigation decreased the total sugar and vitamin C content, but there was no difference between drip and sprinkler irrigation.