Interactive effects of salinity and ozonated water on yield components of cucumber

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salt stress and ozone on yield and yield components of cucumber. The treatments were defined by a two-factorial design of three irrigation water salinity levels (2, 4 and 6 dS/m) and three ozone concentrations (0, 0.5 and 1 ppm). After germination, cucumber seeds were grown in pots containing soil, coco peat and perlite and fed with Hoagland's solution and were imposed with salt and ozone treatments. The results showed that salinity of irrigation water significantly reduced fruit yield of cucumber owing to a decrease both in fruit number and fruit weight. Also, statistical testing showed significant reductions in vitamin C, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root with increasing water salinity. Ozonated water improved fruit yield by increasing fruit number, but had no significant effect on fruit weight. Application of ozone caused significant increases in fresh and dry weight of shoot and leaf area but caused a significant decrease in the vitamin C. Generally, using ozonated water irrigation can induce positive effect on cucumber under salt stress. In conclusion, the saline water in combination with ozone could be recommended in strategic management to grow cucumber (without impaired effects on crop quantity).