Crop modelling is considered an essential tool of planning. The automation of irrigation scheduling using crop models would contribute to an optimization of water and fertilizer use of protected crops. To achieve this purpose, two experiments were carried. The first one aimed at determining water requirements and irrigation scheduling using climatic data. The second experiment was to establish the influence of irrigation interval and fertigation regime on water use efficiency. The results gave a simple model for the determination of the water requirements of protected cucumber by the use of climatic data presented in the paper. As for water use efficiency, the second experiment highlighted the fact that a high frequency and continuous feeding are highly recommended for maximizing yield.

crop yield, cucumbers, irrigation, irrigation scheduling,models, plant water relations, protected cultivation, water useefficiency, Cucumis sativus, Cucumis, Cucurbitaceae, Violales,dicotyledons, angiosperms, Spermatophyta, plants, eukaryotes,cultivation under glass or plastic, gherkins, watering, HorticulturalCrops (FF003) (New March 2000), Plant Physiology and Biochemistry(FF060), Plant Water Relations (FF062), Plant Production (FF100), SoilWater Management (Irrigation and Drainage) (JJ800) (Revised June 2002)[formerly Soil Water Management], Mathematics and Statistics (ZZ100)

• Journal Article

• Irrigation Management