Effect of Some Natural Extracts on Growth and Productivity of Cucumber under Sandy Soil Conditions

Two field experiments were carried out during the two consecutive winter seasons of 2013 and 2014 under low tunnels at the Baloza Experimental Station of (Desert Research Center) at North Sinai Governorate. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of some natural extracts i.e. sea algae at rate of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/l; compost tea at rate of 50, 100 and 150 g/l; licorice at rate of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 g/l and yeast at rate of 2.5, 5 and 7.5g/l on growth, yield and its components and chemical constituents of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Obtained results revealed that all foliar treatments improved growth, yield parameters and chlorophyll content compared with control treatment. The highest significant increments in plant length, plant weight, average of leaf area, fruit weight, No. of fruit/plant, yield and chemical content were recorded with foliar sprays using yeast extract at the rate of 7.5gm/l, algae extract at the rate of 1.5gm/l and compost tea extract at the rate of 150 gm/l, respectively, in both growing seasons. Linear correlation and regression of cucumber traits on each other were carried out. It may be worth to mention that for each increased of one square centimeter of leaves area/plant, fresh weight of areal part and total yield correspondingly increased by (5.195 and 3.64 gm/plant) and (0.050 and 0.055 ton/fed.) in the first and second season, respectively