Product quality of different cucumber hybrids (Cucumis sativus L.) depending on the fruiting period and sowing time in greenhouses

Background. In greenhouses in the Lipetsk region they grow cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, but cucumber is the main vegetable in winter, occupying 70-80% of the area. In the conditions of the Lipetsk region, for 5th generation greenhouses, insufficient work has been done to determine the best hybrid, sowing dates and quality indicators of products in order to increase their profitability. Modern technology for industrial production of cucumbers involves growing high-yielding varieties and hybrids, to which advanced innovative technologies must be applied, taking into account the full use of all resources while simultaneously reducing material costs, high quantity and quality of manufactured products.

Purpose. The objective of the study was to study the comparative characteristics of different cucumber hybrids for greenhouses with a year-round cultivation cycle in terms of the yield of high-quality and cheaper products depending on the sowing dates in the conditions of central Russia (Lipetsk Region).

Materials and methods. The research was conducted in the greenhouse complex "Eletskie Ovoshi" (Lipetsk region). This is a modern complex of 5th generation greenhouses, which was built taking into account the latest technological innovations. The entire technological process of growing cucumbers in the greenhouse complex is controlled by a computer system for creating an artificial climate. The cucumber was grown in a greenhouse using low-volume hydroponics on mineral wool with periodic supply of nutrient solution in winter-spring crop conditions. The objects of the research were promising parthenocarpic hybrids: long-fruited smooth cucumber Lohengrin, medium-fruited smooth cucumber Meva. During 13 weeks of fruiting, weekly accounting of qualitative and quantitative indicators of the harvest was carried out. Fruits of the highest, first, second, third grade and substandard were noted. Statistical processing in the experiment was carried out by the method of dispersion analysis according to B.A. Dospekhov.

Results. For the first time, it has been established for the conditions of the Lipetsk region, located in the central zone of Russia, that the cultivation of modern parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids in winter-spring rotation is best sown in the first ten days of February (February 6). This is the optimal sowing period. Over the entire fruiting period (13 weeks), the quality of the cucumber variety Mewa (Mewa F1) was the best at this sowing time. The hybrid Lohengrin has a property in the conditions of the Lipetsk region to sharply worsen the production by the 13th week of fruiting, starting from the 10th week. In comparison with the hybrid Meva, 40.5% less top-quality cucumbers were obtained, and 37.4 and 3.1% more of the second and third grades. Growing the hybrid Meva in comparison with the hybrid Lohengrin leads to an increase in greenhouse productivity by 3.57 kg/m2 and a decrease in the price of cucumbers by 1.09 rubles/kg.

Conclusion. The possibility of obtaining protected soil products is shown using cucumber as an example with different ratios of quantity, quality and price depending on the fruiting period, sowing period and hybrid. Economic efficiency showed the feasibility of increasing the area for growing the medium-fruited cucumber hybrid Mewa (Mewa F1), which will contribute to increasing the productivity of modern greenhouses.