International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 29-40 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 31 3 Soil and Substrate Innovations 3.1 Modern soil preparation and conditioning Modern soil preparation and conditioning techniques have significantly evolved to enhance cucumber production. The integration of biochar and compost into traditional soil substrates has shown promising results. For instance, replacing peat with biochar-compost mixtures not only improved the dry biomass of cucumber plants but also increased the total number of fruits per plant and overall yield. This suggests that biochar-compost can be a sustainable alternative to peat, enhancing the nutritional status of the media and providing essential nutrients to the plant (Venkataramani et al., 2023). Additionally, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in conjunction with organic substrates has been found to improve cucumber growth and physiology by increasing root colonization, hyphal density, and nutrient uptake, while also suppressing soil-borne diseases (Ali et al., 2019). 3.2 Use of alternative substrates The use of alternative substrates such as coconut coir and hydroponic systems has gained traction in cucumber cultivation. Hydroponics, in particular, has been shown to be an effective method for growing cucumbers, especially in regions where soil farming is challenging due to environmental or socio-political factors. For example, a study in Nigeria demonstrated that hydroponic systems using cocopeat substrates could produce comparable yields to traditional soil farming, making it a viable alternative in areas affected by farmer-herder conflicts (Ossai et al., 2022). Moreover, the use of coconut coir as an organic substrate in hydroponic systems has been found to enhance plant height, stem diameter, and leaf number, outperforming both inorganic substrates like styrofoam and traditional soil (Olubanjo et al., 2022). 3.3 Case studies of effective soil and substrate utilization Several case studies highlight the effectiveness of innovative soil and substrate utilization in cucumber production. One study demonstrated that the use of lignite substrate in hydroponic systems, combined with high electrical conductivity (EC) nutrient solutions, significantly improved the quality and yield of cucumber fruits. The lignite substrate increased the content of β-carotene, lutein, and chlorophyll in the fruits, indicating its potential as a superior growing medium compared to traditional mineral wool (Łaźny et al., 2022). Another study focused on the use of agricultural residues as alternative substrates, finding that a mixture containing 40% moinha, 15% coconut fiber, 5% eggshell, and 40% pine bark produced the highest quality cucumber seedlings, suggesting that such combinations can effectively replace commercial substrates (Guisolfi et al., 2018). In addition, the reuse of lignite and mineral wool growing mats in hydroponic cultivation has been explored. Results indicated that reused lignite substrates could maintain or even improve cucumber yield and fruit quality compared to new mineral wool substrates, highlighting the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of reusing organic substrates (Łaźny et al., 2021). Furthermore, the combination of leaf compost, perlite, and silt in a 1:1:1 ratio was found to be the most effective substrate for kitchen gardening, enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and overall yield (Sarwar et al., 2018). 4 Seed Selection and Germination Enhancement 4.1 Criteria for choosing high-yield cucumber varieties Selecting high-yield cucumber varieties is crucial for optimizing production. The choice of variety should be based on several factors, including genetic potential for yield, resistance to diseases, and adaptability to local growing conditions. For instance, the study on the nutrient film technique hydroponic system highlighted the importance of selecting varieties that perform well under specific cultivation methods, such as the ‘Nina Z’ variety grafted onto ‘Yu Yu Ikki’ squash, which showed significant yield improvements under the lowering training method (Samba et al., 2023). Additionally, the selection process should consider the variety’s performance under different environmental stresses, as demonstrated by the recurrent selection for low-temperature germination, which significantly improved germination rates at lower temperatures (Nienhuis et al., 1983). 4.2 Pre-treatment methods for improved germination rates Pre-treatment methods can significantly enhance germination rates and seedling vigor. The application of
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