The effects of different pre-crops on organic cucumber (Cucumis sativum L.) seed yield and quality in crop rotation

Choice of a pre-plant is an important factor affecting yield in the crop rotation program. In this study, the effects of using lettuce and broccoli as pre-crops were investigated on cucumber seed yield (kg ha(-1)), seed number per gram, 1000 seed weight (g) and germination rate (%). The experiment was performed in organically certified area of the Institute devoted to crop rotation in Yalova, Turkey. The study was carried out in open field as complete randomized block design with four replications. The results indicated that cucumber seed yields were similar both in plots where lettuce and broccoli were grown as pre-crops and the seed yields were 154.1 and 141.1 kg ha(-1) respectively. Cucumber seed number per gram was 57.07 in lettuce pre-crop parcels and 54.23 in broccoli pre-crop parcels. Weights of 1000 cucumber seeds were 18.09 g for lettuce as pre-crop and 20.59 g for broccoli as pre-crop. Germination rates of cucumber seeds in both pre-crops were 100%.