Effects of Green Manures on Fruits Yield and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency of Cucumbers Cultivated in Organic Systems

For organic cucumber cultivation, nutrients are supplied through organic matter such as compost, organic fertilizers, and green manure crops.Unlike chemical fertilizers, organic matter is influenced by factors like soil and climate, making nutrient management challenging.This study examined green manure crops like rye, hairy vetch, crotalaria, and sudangrass, as well as green manure treatment methods, nutrient utilization, and liquid manure applications.The results showed that mixing rye and hairy vetch for winter green manure crops produced 4,870 kg/10a, with nitrogen supply estimates of 16.2 kg/10a for rye, 23.1 kg/10a for hairy vetch, and 29.5 kg/10a for the mixed sowing.For summer crops, crotalaria produced 4,232 kg/10a and sudangrass 7,824 kg/10a, providing around 15 kg/10a of nitrogen.When over 20 kg/10a of nitrogen was supplied via green manure, nitrogen absorption averaged 33.5 kg/10a, with a nitrogen use efficiency of 71.9%.To optimize green manure for the fall cropping period, early cutting of crops is needed for quick decomposition.Advancing the planting season or providing thermal insulation measures at night will help achieve the desired green manure quantity.