Abstract

Mehrnoush Eskandari Torbaghan1,2*, Gholam Reza Raoufinezhad3andMasoud Eskandari Torbaghan4

In order to study the effects of nitrogen and irrigation interval on broomrape (Orbanche aegyptiaca) damage reduction in cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.), an experiment with two factors, nitrogen (100, 200 and 300 Kg/ha) and irrigation interval (3, 6 and 9 day), in three replications was performed in the greenhouse of Northern Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center. The results obtained show that the seedling emergence was maximum in the treatment of 200 Kg N/ha. However, plant height and plant number of cucumbers were lower. The number of flowering days was significant under effect of irrigation interval, whereas nitrogen fertilizer did not have a significant influence on this parameter. Hence, increase in irrigation interval caused reduction in the number of flowering days. Maximum length and diameter of cucumber were observed in the highest nitrogen level and minimum irrigation interval or the lowest nitrogen level and medium irrigation interval. The maximum number of cucumbers and weight was obtained in maximum nitrogen and irrigation interval. Increase in irrigation interval caused the number of cucumber to increase and the cucumber weight to decrease. Maximum wet weight of shoot and root were observed in the highest nitrogen treatment. The results also revealed that usage of high and medium nitrogen fertilizer with short time irrigation interval had minimum parasite damage reduction in cucumber yield.