International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 29-40 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 30 as soil pollution, continuous cropping obstacles, and excessive use of inorganic fertilizers, and aims to provide practical operational suggestions for agricultural practitioners and researchers to achieve sustainable yield increase in cucumber production. It involves multiple cultivation methods, such as the application of plant growth regulators, the use of earthworm castings, and the implementation of genetic transformation systems, highlighting the positive effects of these measures on cucumber growth, yield, and nutritional value. 2 Innovative Cultivation Techniques Overview 2.1 Definition and scope of innovative techniques in horticulture Innovative cultivation techniques in horticulture encompass a range of advanced methods and technologies aimed at improving crop yield, quality, and sustainability. These techniques often involve the integration of new scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and sustainable practices to address challenges such as climate change, resource limitations, and pest management. Examples include precision irrigation, hydroponics, the use of bio-stimulants, and renewable energy applications. The scope of these techniques is broad, covering various aspects of cultivation from soil management to post-harvest preservation. 2.2 Recent advances in cucumber cultivation practices Recent advances in cucumber cultivation have focused on optimizing resource use, enhancing plant resilience, and improving yield and quality. For instance, the use of moderately-reduced water supply has been shown to affect the chemical composition of cucumbers, increasing levels of certain beneficial compounds like malic acid and carotenoids while reducing others such as nitrogen and iron (Schlering et al., 2020). The integration of poultry manure and mineral fertilizers in greenhouse conditions has also been found to significantly enhance cucumber productivity, with a notable yield increase observed in treatments combining both nutrient sources (Sallam et al., 2021). Hydroponic systems, particularly the nutrient film technique (NFT), have been developed to improve water and nutrient use efficiency. Studies have shown that different training methods within these systems can impact plant growth and yield, with lowering training (LT) methods resulting in higher total and marketable yields compared to pinching training (PT) methods (Samba et al., 2023) (Figure 1). Additionally, the application of nano-selenium, silicon, and hydrogen peroxide has been demonstrated to boost cucumber growth and productivity under combined salinity and heat stress, highlighting the potential of these bio-stimulants in mitigating environmental stressors (Shalaby et al., 2021). Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the NFT hydroponic system: lateral (a) and front (b) view (Adopted from Samba et al., 2023)
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