The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungus (Rhizophagus intaradices) and Hydrogel on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Cucumber in Hydroponic Culture Conditions

Due to high production and good economic income, greenhouse cultures are growing. Therefore, it is necessary to find methods that increase yield and water use efficiency in greenhouse conditions. Use of mycorrhiza fungi and hydrogel can be suggested in this regard. A factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 3 replications in the greenhouse of Payame Noor University of Zahedan center in 2017-2018. The first experimental factor included irrigation at three levels of low, moderate and normal with 540, 790 and 1040 liters of water per square meter, respectively. The second factor consisted of mycorrhizal fungus at two levels of inoculation and no inoculation. Hydrogel treatment at two levels was considered as the third factor. The results showed that under normal irrigation conditions and combined application of fungus and hydrogel, the highest plant height, number of fruits per plant, final fruit yield, dry weight of shoot and root, relative leaf water content and water use efficiency were obtained. For the above traits, no significant difference was observed between this treatment and treatment of normal irrigation and fungal inoculation and without hydrogel application. At moderate irrigation condition, the highest values of the mentioned traits were obtained from the combined treatment of fungus and hydrogel and the yield obtained from this treatment was not significantly different from the one at normal irrigation condition without the use of fungus and hydrogel. At low irrigation condition, the highest values of the studied traits were obtained from combined treatment fungus and hydrogel and also application of hydrogel without the use of fungus. The lowest values of the studied traits in this experiment were obtained at low irrigation treatment without the use of fungus and hydrogel. At low irrigation condition, there was no significant difference between the two treatments of fungal application without the use of hydrogel and lack of fungal application which indicates that the fungus is not effective at low irrigation condition.