Response of cucumber to drip irrigation water

The experiments were conducted inside a plastic greenhouse and a rain shelter to evaluate the effects of different amount of irrigation water on the growth and yield of cucumber. Spring experiment, the amount Of irrigation water applied was 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 times of water surface evaporation (Ep) measured by a standard 0.2m diameter pan, regimes were Ep0.50, Ep0.75 and Ep1.00. Same method for autumn experiment, regimes was Ep0.75, Ep1.00, Ep1.25, Ep1.50 and Ep1.75. The results showed that amount of irrigation water significantly affected plant growth and fruit production. Plant height and biomass increased, but specific leaf weight (SLW, g/m(2)) decreased with increasing amount of irrigation water. The SLW and leaf blade water content were directly response to the soil water content, and SLW was decreased with the leaf blade water content increasing. The amount of irrigation water had significant effects on decreasing the leaf temperature. Plant biomass (dry stem and leaves), the number of lateral branches and production were highest for spring regime Ep1.00 and autumn regime Ep1.75 that the plant received the most amount of irrigation water. Under controlled environmental conditions, water application scheduling for drip-irrigated cucumber should be use a pan evaporation factor more than 1.00 that is a guideline.