Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucmis Sativus L) in Dadin Kowa North East Nigeria

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the research farm of Federal College of Horticulture Dadin Kowa Gombe State during the 2021 rainy  season. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of cucumber.  The treatments were organic and inorganic fertilizers with different rates of application, where organic consist of control, 5t/ha, 10t/ha  and 15t/ha and the inorganic fertilizer consist of 100kg/ha, 200kg/ha and 300kg/ha. The experiment was conducted as 3x2 lay out in  Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The cow dung was broadcasted and mixed with soil a week before  sowing while the NPK was placed along the plant root two weeks after sowing. The growth parameters were measured as from two  weeks after sowing and two weeks subsequent interval. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means  were separated using Ducan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. The result from this study showed that NPK fertilizer  had significant effect on the growth parameters measured and yield per hectare, NPK fertilizer at the rate of 300kg/ha gave the highest  rank of growth and yield parameter, followed by 200kg/ha and then cow dung at 10t/ha. The control gave the least of all the parameters  studied. Therefore, the finding of this study showed that the application of NPK fertilizer at 300kg/ha enhanced the production of  cucumber in the study area.