The effect of organic and chemical fertilization on the growth and yield of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) under protected cultivation conditions: Comprehensive review.

Abstract

The cultivation of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) in protected greenhouses requires careful nutrient management to maintain rapid plant growth, high fruiting rates, and continuous harvesting. This review compiles evidence on organic and chemical fertilization strategies and their effects on growth, yield, fruit quality, soil health, and sustainability. Chemical fertilizers (especially N–P–K via top dressing) promote early activity, leaf area, and marketable yield through readily available nutrients and controllable doses. However, exclusive reliance on them can exacerbate soil salinity, nutrient imbalance, and environmental pollution, especially under intensive year-round production. Organic amendments (compost, manure, digestate, biochar, and plant extracts) improve cation exchange capacity, water retention, and microbial activity, often leading to improved fruit quality (dry matter, firmness, soluble solids, vitamin C) and reduced physiological disorders. Crop responses to organic fertilizers alone vary, reflecting the quality of amendments, mineralization rates, and temperature-dependent decomposition common in protected systems. In all studies, integrated nutrient management — combining basic organic amendments and soluble mineral fertilization — provides the most reliable results: higher nutrient use efficiency, stable yields, improved storage life, and partial (20–50%) replacement of synthetic nitrogen without affecting yield. Economic analyses generally favor integrated programs when organic inputs are locally available and fertigation is optimized. Future priorities include standardizing organic input characterization, modeling N mineralization under protected microclimates, and long-term trials that jointly track yield, quality, and soil biological indicators to define fertilizer substitution thresholds for resilient cucumber production.