Responses of cucumber (Cucumis sativa L) to nitrogen in Obubra, Cross River State

Abstract

The responses of Cucumber (Cucumis sativa L) to nitrogen was studied in two filed experiments conducted in the teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Science, Obubra Campus, Cross River State University of Technology during the 2003 and 2004 cropping seasons. The experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments comprised eight levels of Nitrogen (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate 26% of Nitrogen) rates at: 0 kg/ha, 80 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 120 kg/ha, 140 kg/ha, 160 kg/ha, 180 kg/ha and 200 kg/ha. Application of nitrogen significantly increased the growth and yield of Cucumber. The successive increase in nitrogen rate increased in vegetative growth (vine length, leaves and number of braches per plant). Nitrogen rates of 180 and 200kg/ha produced significantly higher fruit yield than the lower rates. The use of 180kg/ha of nitrogen gave the highest marketable fruit yield in 2003 and 2004.

Keywords: cucumber, nitrogen, growth and yield

Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 165-167