Response of Cucumber plants to the combination of N-fertilization with stimulants under greenhouse conditions

Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers on vegetable crops has negative effects on human health. There is need to rationalize and reduce nitrogen consumption in cultivated plants, especially after its high price. Two greenhouse experiment were executed through the two winter growing seasons of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 under plastic greenhouses at the Vegetable Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University to study the effect of different rates of mineral and bio nitrogen fertilizer in addition foliar fertilization with some different growth stimulants, namely Clacium and boron, Potassium Phosphide, Seaweed Extract, MAP on vegetative growth, chemical content of leaves, yield ant its quality of cucumber. The treatments were the interaction betwee three N-fertilizer , i.e., T1- 100% RDN, T2- 80% RDN + Bio fertilizer (Nitrobein), T3- 60% RDN + Bio fertilizer (Nitrobein), and five sources of growth stimulants , i.e., - Calium and boron at 2 ml / l, MAP at 2 g / l, Seaweed extract at 2 ml / l, Potassium phosphide at 2 g / l. and Control. Results showed that, adding all amount of nitrogen as 100% in mineral then spray the plants with Calium and boron at 2 ml/l exhibited the highest values in plant height and leaves area during the two seasons of study. In conclusion, the best treatment concerning increasing early yield, number of fruits per plant and total fruit yield per plant was 100% RDN and sprinkle the plants with “Calium and boron at 2 ml/l” followed by the best treatment concerning increasing total fruit yield per plant was “80% RDN + nitrobien” and spray the plants with the same stimulant “Calium and boron at 2 ml/l” in both seasons.