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Smart control of soil temperature to optimize root-zone conditions for enhancing the physiological performance, growth, and productivity of greenhouse-grown cucumber

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Abstract

Determining the optimal soil temperature in the active root zone to meet the requirements of different plant growth stages is crucial. Controlled greenhouse producers attempt to heat soil sectors in various ways without determining an appropriate or reliable soil temperature. A suitable smart method can be used to adjust the temperature in the active root zone to determine the optimal temperature and improve crop growth and yield. Cucumber plants grown in a plastic greenhouse were subjected to five different soil temperature treatments (13 as a control, 16, 19, 22, and 25 °C) over two growing seasons using carbon fiber smart thermal cable connected to a metal thermostat. The thermal cable was installed 10 cm below the soil surface, extended 20 m apart on three branches per replicate, and then buried and compacted well into the soil. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum soil temperature by smart thermal system, to enhance photosynthesis rate, growth parameters, and yield of cucumber, as well as improving the availability of nutrients within active root zone, and to minimize vapor pressure deficit. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five treatments and three replicates. The smart soil heating system was a feasible economic option, with a benefit–cost ratio of 1.75% versus 1.1% for the traditional system, resulting in improved cucumber yield and quality, while saving approximately 30% of energy. Plant photosynthesis was positively correlated with total yield but negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit, suggesting that the initial or mid-season increases in cucumber yield were partly due to the increased soil temperature at 22 °C. In conclusion, plants grown at 19 or 22 °C had significantly similar yields of 3.37 ± 0.09 and 3.71 ± 0.14 kg plant−1, respectively, and most of these plants had higher yields than plants grown at 16 °C, with a yield of 2.33 ± 0.03 kg plant−1. We suggest that a soil temperature of 22 °C is ideal for cucumber growers in the initial or mid-season, but at the end of the season the plant may not be affected, so a soil temperature of 19 °C can be used to save energy. Also, the possibility of presenting this intelligent system as an alternative the traditional one.

Data availability

All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and the attached file.

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Funding

Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB). The Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Agricultural Research Center is the only funder of this research work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    K. M. Refaie

  2. Physics and Chemistry Department, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

    Shereen A. H. Saad

  3. Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    Nermin S. Hussein

Authors

  1. K. M. Refaie
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  2. Shereen A. H. Saad
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  3. Nermin S. Hussein
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Contributions

K.R. Developed the idea and methodology, discussed them with the other members, designed the experiment, and implemented it with their assistance. S.S. Besides assisting with statistical analysis, she conducted laboratory analyses and handled all aspects of soil science, including writing and reviewing the manuscript. N.H. Her contribution was in agricultural engineering, encompassing energy and economic studies, as well as selecting and assembling the intelligent system. All authors shared all research works, writing, editing and finalizing the manuscript. They read and agree for submission of manuscript to the journal.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to
K. M. Refaie.

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Refaie, K.M., Saad, S.A.H. & Hussein, N.S. Smart control of soil temperature to optimize root-zone conditions for enhancing the physiological performance, growth, and productivity of greenhouse-grown cucumber.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40825-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40825-8

Keywords


  • Cucumis sativus
  • Smart management techniques
  • Soil temperature
  • Plant photosynthesis
  • Vapor pressure deficit
  • Cucumber growth
  • Yield

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