Researcher: L. Bruce Reynolds

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Southern Crop Protection & Food Research Centre

Box 186, Delhi, Ont. N4B 2W9.

Objectives: To determine the response of processing cucumber cultivars Fancipak M (hand pick) and Vlaspik M (once-over machine harvest) to variations in irrigation timing.

Project Start Date: 1 April 1999

Project End Date: 31 March 2002

Methodology: A randomized complete block design with 4 replications located at the Delhi research farm was used to conduct irrigation trials. Row lengths were 7 m with a plant spacing of 1.0 x 0.14 m (70,000 plants/ha) for Fancipak M and 0.5 x 0.1 m (200,000 plants/ha) for Vlaspik M. Soil moisture was determined for each plot by "TDR" technique on a 5 day/week basis and irrigation applied via trickle irrigation using 1 line/row with 4 l/h emitters spaced 0.34 m apart when soil moisture dropped to less than 9.5 % (vol/vol). At each irrigation sufficient water was applied to bring soil moisture to about field capacity. Plot yield, size distribution, and quality ratings were determined.

Irrigation Treatments:

1. Non-irrigated check - 70,000 plants/ha = Fancipak.

2. Irrigate as required at seeding and maintain soil moisture until end of harvest - Fancipak.

3. Irrigate as required at first flower and maintain soil moisture until end of harvest - Fancipak.

4. Irrigate as required at first flower and maintain soil moisture until first fruit is 2.5 cm in diameter- Fancipak.

5. Non-irrigated check - 200,000 plants/ha = Vlaspik.

6. Irrigate as required at seeding and maintain soil moisture until end of harvest - Vlaspik.

7. Irrigate as required at first flower and maintain soil moisture until end of harvest - Vlaspik.

8. Irrigate as required at first flower and maintain soil moisture until first fruit is 2.5 cm in diameter- Vlaspik.

Results - General:

Due to excessive rainfall this spring and early summer, no irrigation was required to keep soil moisture at or above 9.5 % from time of seeding until end of July. By this time all but 2 treatments had been lost and the potential for producing any significant results was extremely low. Cost of labour and materials for plot establishment and maintenance to this point was about 20% of the total monies allocated to the project. For these reasons the year 2000 trial was terminated.