Effects of different levels of density on yield and quantitative characteristics of two greenhouse cucumber (Cucmis sativus) cultivars

To evaluate the effect of plant density on yield and quantitative characteristics of two greenhouse cucumber cultivars، this experiment was planned as factorial، based on completely randomized blocks design with three replications، during two years in the greenhouse of Jiroft Agricultural Research Center، Jiroft، Iran. The experimental factors were width of planting strip (15، 30 and 45 cm)، each strip consisted of two planted rows، three levels of within-row spacing (25، 40 and 55 cm)، and two cultivars (Royal sluis 198 and California Ayat). The results showed that different densities had significant effect on yield traits. In this experiment، fruit weight، number of fruits per plant، and fruit yield per plant were decreased with increasing plant density; but، number of fruits and fruit yield per m2 increased significantly. Moreover، the highest fruit length to diameter ratio، number of fruits per m2، yield of single plant، and yield per m2 were obtained in planting strip width of 30 cm. However، cultivars didn’t show significant yield difference. Based on the results of this experiment، planting spacing of 25×30 cm was the best treatment for maximizing yield for greenhouse cucumber.