Ahmad Mohammadi Ghehsareh - Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan, P.O.Box 81595–158, Iran

Different substrates have several materials which could have direct and/or indirect effects on plant growth anddevelopment. The use of different organic and inorganic substrates allows that plants have best nutrient uptakeand sufficient growth and development to optimize water and oxygen holding. This work was carried out using acompletely randomized design with six treatments and six replications. The treatments were pure palm peat, purerice hull, soil + 5% (weight) palm peat, soil + 5% (weight) rice hull, soil + 5% (weight) palm peat + 5% (weight) rice hulland pure soil. During plant growth Papadopolus formula with fertigation method was used for nutrient solution.Selected physiochemical properties of culture media and selected growth indices of plants were measured at the endof growth period. Results showed that amount of porosity, water holding capacity (WHC) and cation exchange capacity(CEC) in date-palm peat was higher than soil and rice hull but amount of bulk density in date-Palm peat was lowerthan the others. Also The results showed that many growth parameters were affected by the culture media. Mostamount of yield and plant height in each was related to palm waste (100%) and had significant difference at 5% levelas compared with the others. Results showed that plant growing indices for cucumber plant were sufficient whencultured only in date Palm waste and rice hull substrates and when this materials were added to the soil, although itamended physiochemical properties of media but decreased the plant growing indices.

Palm peat; Rice hull; Yield; Greenhouse cucumber; Soil