International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 29-40 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 33 application efficiency of 97% and a yield of 153.8 t/ha, compared to manual control systems (El-Shafie et al., 2021). Additionally, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) based on water evaporation has been shown to optimize irrigation scheduling, leading to improved WUE and yield. In Northeast China, an SDI system with an 8-day interval and a plant-pan coefficient of 0.8 resulted in the highest WUE and a minimal yield reduction despite a 14.3% decrease in total irrigation water (Wang et al., 2009). These smart irrigation techniques highlight the potential for automation to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of cucumber production. 5.3 Case studies of successful precision irrigation applications Several case studies have illustrated the successful application of precision irrigation techniques in cucumber production. In Qatar, a study on open field cucumber production found that minimal drip irrigation combined with reduced nitrogen levels significantly improved growth, fruit characteristics, and yield. The optimal combination of 50% deficit irrigation and 70 kg N/ha resulted in the highest total yield of 34.5 t/ha (Bello et al., 2023). Another case study in Northern China demonstrated that improved greenhouse cucumber production could be achieved under deficit water and fertilization conditions. The treatment with 85% field capacity and moderate fertilizer levels yielded 129.99 t/ha, indicating a 15% deficit water tolerance (Hossain et al., 2018). Furthermore, aerated drip irrigation (ADI) has been shown to enhance soil properties, root growth, and cucumber yields. In Shouguang, China, ADI with appropriate dissolved oxygen concentrations significantly improved irrigation water use efficiency and crop yields, while also promoting beneficial soil bacterial communities (Xiao et al., 2023). These case studies exemplify the effectiveness of precision irrigation techniques in various environmental and cultivation contexts, contributing to the overall advancement of sustainable cucumber production. 6 Nutrient Management Strategies 6.1 Custom fertilization plans and nutrient delivery systems Custom fertilization plans and nutrient delivery systems are essential for optimizing cucumber production. The integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers has been shown to significantly enhance soil health and cucumber yield. For instance, the combination of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) with farmyard manure (FYM) at 100 q/ha resulted in a 50.22% higher yield compared to control and improved soil NPK content (Sharma et al., 2022). Similarly, the use of poultry manure (PM) combined with mineral fertilizers (MF) in greenhouse conditions significantly enhanced cucumber productivity, with the best results observed in the treatment combining 30 kg PM with 3 kg MF (Sallam et al., 2021) (Figure 3; Table 1). Drip irrigation combined with precise fertigation levels also plays a crucial role in maximizing yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cucumbers grown in substrate bags (Feng et al., 2019). Figure 3 The schematic design three layers of the trough. The bottom layer contained coco-peat, the top layer contained sand, and the middle layer was used for different treatments of the combination of coco-peat, MF, and poultry manure (PM) except T1, which was used as control comprising only 60 kg of PM (Adopted from Sallam et al., 2021)
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