IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Sirelkhatim K. Abbouda; Amel Ahmed El Mamoun; Sahar Gaafar Ahmed; Adam Bush Adam; Nasreddin Idris Mourad; Omer Almahi Mohamed

Volume : VIII, Issue : V, May - 2019

Effect of Different Greenhouse Covers on Evaporative Cooling Efficiency and Crop Yield of Cucumber

Sirelkhatim K. Abbouda, Amel Ahmed El Mamoun, Sahar Gaafar Ahmed, Adam Bush Adam, Nasreddin Idris Mourad, Omer Almahi Mohamed

Abstract :

The experimental work was conducted at the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum – Shambat, Sudan (32⁰ 51 ̀ E, 15⁰ 65 ̀ N and 380 m above the mean sea level) during the summer season of 2018 with the objective of investigating the effect of different greenhouse covers on cooling efficiency and crop yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Greenhouses were designed and installed to accommodate different treatments namely; double–layers of polyethylene with 9cm air gap (D–PE), single–layer of polyethylene (S–PE), and single–layer of polyethylene with green net with 50% opening (S–PE+N). These treatments were arranged in randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The parameters tested were climate factors, evaporative cooling system efficiency and the yield of cucumber. A computer program (SAS statistical package) was used to analyze the data while the variations among the means were checked by the Least Significant Difference (LSD). The results showed that there was no significant difference between different treatments inside the greenhouses. D–PE cover decreased the mean values of temperature (28 ̊C) compared to S–PE cover (29 ̊C). While it was increased the average relative humidity (73%) compared to S–PE+N cover (71%). Evaporative cooling efficiency and cooling effect significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by the different covers. The highest mean values of evaporative cooling efficiency (64%) and cooling effect (7.1 ̊C) were recorded under D–PE cover at wet–bulb depression (11.03) as compared to S–PE (61.7% and 6.8 ̊C, respectively). Due to the variations in climate factors and materials covers, S–PE significantly increased the yield production (163.2 kg) compared to S–PE+N (105.5 kg).