Interaction of Urea Fertilizer and Magnetized Water on Yield and Water and Fertilizer Use Efficiency in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Kish F1)

آب و خاک

Article 12, Volume 34, Issue 3 - Serial Number 71, July 2020, Pages 675-688   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jsw.v34i3.83971

Authors

J. Nikbakht^* ; V. Eshghi; T. Barzegar; A.R. Vaezi

Zanjan University

Abstract

Introduction: In arid and semi-arid regions such as Iran, water shortage and soil absorbable nutrients deficiency are limiting factors of plants growth. Nutrient deficiencies are compensated by chemical fertilizers. The main issue in fertilizer consumption is to use the optimal amount of fertilizer that increases water and fertilizer use efficiency. One of the newest and most effective approach for efficient use of water in agriculture is to magnetize the irrigation water. For producing magnetized water, it is crossed through a permanent magnetic field. By crossing water through a magnetic field, its physical and chemical properties improve. The aim of current research was, investigating the effect of urea fertigation by magnetized water on yield, water and fertilizer use efficiency in cucumber cv. Kish F1.
Materials and Methods: This study was performed as split plot experiment based on completely randomized block design with three replications from June to November 2018 on cucumber cultivate Kish F1 at the Research Farm of Agricultural Faculty, University of Zanjan, Iran. The treatments consisted nitrogen fertilizer levels at 5 levels from urea source (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% crop fertilizer requirement) and irrigation water (magnetized and no magnetized water). The treatment of 0% urea fertilizer and no magnetized water were considered as control. For crops irrigation, tape-drip irrigation system was used and for magnetizing of water, an electromagnetic field with 0.1 tesla was used. The crop water requirements were calculated by FAO-Penman-Monteith Approach on a daily basis using on-time weather parameters data of Zanjan Station. The irrigation frequency was 3 days. During the growth period, fertilization was done as fertigation approach on four times (15%, 30%, 30% and 25% of total crop urea fertilizer requirement). The first fertilization was applied 45 days after planting and the rests was carried out as 10-day periods after first fertilization.
Results and Discussion: The effect of urea fertilizer levels were significant at 0.1% level on yield, water use efficiency, number of fruits and leaf area, at 1% on chlorophyll index and at 5% on fertilizer use efficiency. Magnetized water was significant at 0.1% level on the all evaluated traits, except chlorophyll index. Treatment interaction effects were significant on water use efficiency, urea fertilizer use efficiency and number of fruits at 1% and no significant effect on the rest of traits. Compared with control, the highest and lowest increase in mean chlorophyll index were in 75% and 0.0% urea fertilizer level and magnetized water (21.1% and 0.4% respectively). At any urea fertilizer level, mean leaf area in magnetized water treatment was greater than no magnetized water treatment. Maximum and minimum difference between magnetized and not magnetized water treatments were in 25% and 0.0% urea fertilizer level (155.8 and 143.6 cm2, respectively). Based on treatments interaction, maximum mean of fruits number, achieved in 75% urea fertilizer level-magnetized water (32.8 number). It was 47.7% more than control. Maximum mean of cucumber yields with 50.3 t/ha, were in 75% urea fertilizer level-magnetized water that it increased 17.9, 2 and 3.8 t/ha compared with control, 100% urea fertilizer level-magnetized and no magnetized water, respectively. Results showed that application of magnetized water to irrigate plants, increased water use efficiency. Maximum water use efficiency achieved in 25% urea fertilizer level and magnetized water as much as 17.7 kg/m3. The trend of variations in mean water use efficiency showed, in no magnetized water, by reducing the application amount of urea fertilizer, averages of water use efficiency decreased but in magnetized water treatment, the trend of variations were incremental from 100% to 75% urea fertilizer level. On results, at each level of urea fertilizer treatment, using magnetized water for plant irrigating, increased mean of fertilizer use efficiency compared no magnetized water treatment. Maximum difference between means of urea fertilizer use efficiency at magnetized and no magnetized water was achieved in 25% urea fertilizer level as 74.3 Kg/Kg (367%). The results also showed, the trend of variations in mean urea fertilizer use efficiency at no magnetized water were decreasing from 100% to 25% urea fertilizer level but at magnetized water, the trend was increasing.
Conclusion: based on results of the current research, the optimum urea fertilizer level in Zanjan Region for cucumber is 75% urea fertilizer requirement, which by applying magnetized water to irrigate cucumber plants, mean of yield increases. In this case, in addition to save 25% of urea fertilizer amount, it is also prevented environmental problems.

Keywords

Cucumber; Fertigation; fertilizer use efficiency; Magnetic water; Water use efficiency

References

1- AAli J., Nouri M., and Kashi A.K. 2015. Effect of sources and amounts of nitrogen, Urea foliar and Fosamco food solution on yield and growth characteristics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Journal of Vegetables Sciences 1(1): 37-48. (In Persian with English abstract)

2- Acar B., Paksoy M., Turkmen O., and Seymen M. 2008. Irrigation and nitrogen level affect lettuce yield in greenhouse condition. African Journal of Biotechnology 7(24): 4450-4453.

3- Afkhami M. 2015. Effect of foliar of magnetic fertilizer on yield and water productivity of Maize (Cv. Maxima). M.Sc. thesis in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, University of Zanjan, Iran. (In Persian with English abstract)

4- Aghaei A.H., and Ehsanzadeh P. 2012. Effect of water deficit stress and nitrogen on yield and some physiological parameters of oilseed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science 42(3): 291-299. (In Persian with English abstract)

5- Allen R.G., Periera L.S., Raes D., and Smith M. 1998. Crop evapotranspiration (guidelines for computing crop water requirements). FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper. No.56, Rome. Italy.

6- Beigi S., Golchin A., and Shafiei S. 2011. The effects of different levels of nitrogen and molybdenum in nutrient solution on quantitative and qualitative traits and nitrate concentration of cucumber in hydroponic culture. Journal of Science and Technology of Greenhouse Culture 2(2): 37-49. (In Persian with English abstract)

7- Cheikh O., Elaoud A., Ben Amor H., and Hozayn M. 2018. Effect of permanent magnetic field on the properties of static water and germination of cucumber seeds. International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research 6: 108-116.

8- De Souza A., Garci D., Sueiro L., Gilart F., Porras E., and Licea L. 2006. Pre-Sowing magnetic treatments of tomato seeds increase the growth and yield of plants. Bioelectromagnetics 27(4): 247-257.

9- Ghanbari S., Kaviani A., and Nouri Ghidari M.H. 2016. Investigation of interaction effects of magnetic water and salinity on cucumber yield (native cultivar of Qazvin). 4th National Conference on Applied Research in Agriculture Science, 18 November, Nikan’s High Educational Institute, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian)

10- Hamzei J., and Babaei M. 2017. Response of morphological traits, yield and yield components of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) to the integrated management of irrigation intervals and nitrogen fertilizers. Journal of Crop Production 9(4): 17-35. (In Persian with English abstract)

11- Hamzei J., Babaei M., and Khorramdel S. 2015. Effects of different irrigation regimes on fruit production, oil quality, water use efficiency and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency of pumpkin. Agroecology 7(1):99-108. (In Persian with English abstract)

12- Hashemabadi D. 2017. The activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymes under the influence of water and irrigation intervals to ornamental periwinkle. 48(1):49-59. (in Persian with English abstract)

13- Hashemabadi D., and Kashi A. 2004. Effects of different levels of nitrogen and poultry manure on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of autumn growing cucumber. Journal of Water and Soil Science 8(2): 25-33. (In Persian with English abstract)

14- Heidarpour M., Khoshravesh M., and Moshaveri Y. 2016. Effect of magnetized saline water on soil and water amendment in trickle irrigation. Journal of Water and Soil Conservation, 23(2):179-193. (in Persian with English abstract)

15- Hozayn M., and Abdul Qados M.S.A. 2010a. Irrigation with magnetized water enhances growth, chemical constituent and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America 1(4): 671-676.

16- Hozayn M., and Abdul Qados M.S.A. 2010b. Magnetic water application for improving wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop production. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America 1(4): 677-682.

17- Imani M. 2015. Effect of irrigation frequency using magnetized water on yield and water productivity of Maize (Cv. Maxima). M.Sc. thesis in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, University of Zanjan, Iran. (In Persian with English abstract)

18- Issa F.H., Shanoon R.W. and El Kaaby E.J. 2016. Effect of magnetized water with spraying (Amino Alexine) on growth and yield of (Cucumis sativus L.) growth in plastic house. Journal of University of Duhok 19(1): 418-424. (Special Issue).

19- Javaheri Sh., Abdollahian-Noghabi M., Kashani A., Habibi D., and Noshad H. 2011. Determine relationship of leaf chlorophyll concentration and yield using chlorophyll meter in sugar beet. New Finding in Agriculture, 5(4):355-365. (in Persian with English abstract)

20- Karimi A., Homaee M., Moezardalan M., Liaghat A.M., and Raiesi F. 2006. Effect of fertigation on yield and water use efficiency on corn in a tape irrigation system. Journal of Agricultural Science 12(3):561-575. (In Persian with English abstract)

21- Lack Sh., Naderi A., Siadat S.A., Ayenehband A., and Noormohammadi Gh. 2006. Effect of different levels of nitrogen and plant density on grain yield and its components and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) cv. SC. 704 under different moisture conditions in Khuzestan. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences 8(2):153-170. (In Persian with English abstract)

22- Maghami R., Zahedi M., and Gheysari M. 2014. Effects of nitrogen application and irrigation water on grain yield and water use efficiency of Safflower in Isfahan. Journal of Crop Production and Processing 4(11): 1-13. (In Persian with English abstract)

23- Mahmoudi Gh., Ghanbari A., Rastgoo M., Gholi Zade M., and Tahmasebi I. 2016. Evaluating the magnetic field effects on growth and yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) under Mashhad climatic conditions. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 14(2): 380-391. (In Persian with English abstract)

24- Mohseni A., Mirseyed Hosseini H., and Abbasi F. 2012. Comparison of fertigation with surface broadcast fertilizer method in water, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, component yield of corn and losses of nitrogen. Journal of Water and Soil 26(5): 1181-1189. (In Persian with English abstract)

25- Moradi Marjane E., Banayan Aval M., Rezvani Moghaddam P., and Shabahang J. 2014. Effects of different amounts of nitrogen and plant density on yield, yield components and seed oil percentage of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). Agroecology 6(1): 21-30. (In Persian with English abstract)

26- Nikbakht J., and Rezaee E. 2017. Effect of different levels of wastewater and magnetized water on yield and water use efficiency in maize and some of soil physical properties. Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research, 48(1):63-75. (in Persian with English abstract)

27- Nikbakht J., and Talei A. 2019. Effect of magnetized water on hydraulic properties of tape irrigation system and yield and water use efficiency in maize. Journal of Water and Soil Resources Conversation 8(4): 21-36. (In Persian with English abstract)

28- Nikbakht J., Khandeh Rouyan M., Tavakkoli A., and Taheri M. 2014. Effect of deficit irrigation with magnetized water on yield and water productivity of maize. Journal of Water Research in Agriculture 27(4): 551-563. (In Persian with English abstract)

29- Noshad H., and Khayamim S. 2017. Effect of soil nitrogen on some physiological characteristics and quality of sugar beet. Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science 48(1): 11-24. (In Persian with English abstract)

30- Nweke I.A., and Nsoanya L.N. 2015. Effect of cow dung and urea fertilization on soil properties, growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International 3(2): 81-88

31- Rafatjoo Gh., Paknejad F., and Nabi Ilkaei M. 2017. Various amounts and methods of application of nitrogen fertilizer on yield parameters of maize. Journal of Agronomy and Plant Breeding 12(4):51-65. (In Persian with English abstract)

32- Rezaei A., Rahimzadeh Khoei F., Jafarzadeh Kenarsari M., Yarnia M., and Ashraf Jafari A. 2015. Response of leave chlorophyll, sink capacity and yield components to the application of Rhizobium and mineral nitrogen in different densities of soybean. Crop Physiology Journal 7(27):21-36. (In Persian with English abstract)

33- Rostamzadeh A., Golchin A., and Mohammadi J. 2013. The Effects of different sources and rates of nitrogen on nitrogen use efficiency and cucumber yield. Water and Soil Science 23(1): 15-26. (In Persian with English abstract)

34- Saeed K.S., Ahmed S.A., Hassan I.A., and Ahmed P.H. 2015. Effect of bio-fertilizer and chemical fertilizer on growth and yield in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in green house condition. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 15(3): 353-358.

35- Servati M., Teimourian N., Bariklou A., and Nazari Sh. 2016. Increasing of water use efficiency and pea yield by fertigation technology. The 6th Iranian Puise Crops Symposium, 28 April, Khorram-Abad, Iran. (In Persian)

36- Shadmehr E., Golchin A., and Shafiey S. 2011. Effects of nitrogen source and amount, and foliar application methods of urea and micronutrients on the yield and growth characteristics in cucumber, Cucumis sativus cv. Royal. Agroecology Journal 6(4): 23-33. (In Persian with English abstract)

37- Shahin M.M., Mashhour A.M.A., and Abd-Elhady E.S.E. 2016. Effect of magnetized irrigation water and seeds on some water properties, growth parameter and yield productivity of cucumber plants. Current Science International 5(2): 152-164.

38- Silva P.S.L., Rodrigues V.L.P., de Medeiros J.F., de Aquino B.F., and da Silva, J. 2007. Yield and quality of melon fruits as a response to the application of nitrogen and potassium doses. Revista Caatinga 20(1): 43-49.

39- Zarrabi M.M., Mafakheri S., and Kaviani A. 2017. Comparison of the effect of irrigation with ordinary and magnetic water on morphological and physiological characteristics of corn under drought tension conditions. Crop Physiology Journal 9(35): 39-54. (In Persian with English abstract)