Medidas de control biológico en la producción de pepino, bajo condiciones de invernadero

The use of non-polluting control measures has increased in recent years, allowing reducing the application of agrochemicals that affect the environment. In this work, the techniques of biofumigation, solarization and biosolarization were evaluated in the production of American cucumber, under greenhouse conditions. Biofumigation is a technique that uses organic matter, for the control of soil-borne pathogens; while solarization consists of the heating of the soil to such temperatures that allow the control of pests and diseases; while the combination of both techniques (biofumigation + solarization) is called biosolarization. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse located in the experimental field of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock of the University of Sonora, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The design was randomized blocks with four treatments and four replicates. The evaluated treatments were biofumigation, solarization, biosolarization and the control. The variables evaluated were yield (kg m^–2, boxes ha^–1 and fruits plant^–1) and fruit weight (g). As quality parameters the firmness of the fruit in kg cm^–2, as well as length and diameter in cm, were quantified. The best treatment was biofumigation, which presented a higher number of fruits with 10.1 fruits plant^–1 and a higher yield with 10.0 kg m^–2 and 4,197 boxes ha^–1; Followed by biosolarization, with 9.3 fruits plant^–1 and a yield of 8.7 kg m^–2 and 3,791 boxes ha^–1. The quality parameters did not present significant differences between treatments.