INFLUENCE OF GREEN-HOUSE COVER ON POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND CUCUMBER WATER REQUIREMENTS

The experiment was conducted through two successive seasons of 2008 and 2009 at El-Bosaily farm, El-Behira governorate at the North Coastal of the Nile Delta, in Egypt. This work aimed to study the effect of three green-house covers (polyethylene sheet, white and black net) and three irrigation levels [80%, 100% and 120% of the potential evapotranspiration estimated according to class A pan equation (ETo)], applied by drip irrigation system, on plant growth and crop yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Reda F1). The experimental design was split- plot with three replicates. The results showed that white net green-house cover optimized growth and yield of cucumber plant. White net cover treatment recorded the highest vegetative growth (plant height, number of leaves, total leaves area, total fresh and dry weights), and significantly increased total yield. The highest vegetative growth was obtained by 100% ETo compared to 80 and 120% ETo treatments. The interaction among water treatment and green-house cover indicated the highest vegetative growth and crop yield were obtained under white net cover with 100% ETo.