Agronomic attributes of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) as influenced by time of poultry manure application in Abia State, South East, Nigeria

Abstract

An experiment on agronomic attributes of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) as influenced by time of poultry manure application in Abia State, South East Nigeria, occurred at the research farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, during 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. It was a 2 x 5 factorial laid in a randomized complete block design, replicated thrice. The treatments comprised two cucumber varieties of POINSETT and THAI 999 as well as time of poultry manure application levels of: 0 application (control); one week after planting (1WAP), one week before planting (1WBP); two weeks after planting (2WAP) and two weeks before planting (2WBP). Results showed that leaf area index, number of vines per plant and total dry weight per plant (leaves, stems and roots) increased at 4 and 8 weeks after planting (WAP) and decreased at 12WAP. Vine length per plant increased at 4, 8 and 12WAP, while crop growth rate was active at 4WAP to 8WAP and negative at 8 to 12WAP. THAI 999 variety yielded longer fruits per plant of 68.1 cm (2019) and 125.43 cm (2020); harvest index of 56.5% (2019) and 68.49% (2020); fruit number per hectare of 7,396 kgha^-1 (2019) and 8,167 kgha^-1 (2020) over POINSETT variety. Poultry manure at two weeks before planting (2WBP) yielded longer fruits per plant of 82.0 cm (2019) and 139.12 cm (2020); harvest index of 67.0% (2019) and 80.95% (2020); fruit number per hectare of 10,674 kgha^-1 (2019) and 13,958 kgha^-1 (2020) over control. Time of poultry manure application at 2WBP and THAI 999 variety responded better and are recommended for cultivation in southeastern Nigeria.