Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.) in South-South Nigeria

The experiment was conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching and Research farm, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria from April to August, 2019  on  the  effects  of  organic  and  inorganic  fertilizers  on  the  growth  and yield  of  cucumber  (Cucumis  sativus  L).  The  research  was  done  in  a randomized complete block design with four treatments and replicated four times. The treatments include control (no application), NPK 15:15:15, spent mushroom substrate, and poultry manure.  Data collected were, vine length (plant height), number of leaves, stem girth, leaf area, length of pod, weight of pod. Results showed that plots with poultry manure had significant effect on vine length, number of leaves, leaf area at 6 weeks after planting (WAP) and  8WAP.  The  highest  number  of  fruits  was  9.0  per  plot  or  15,000  per hectare and highest fruit  weight was 1.59kg/plot (2,650kg/ha)  which  were higher  than  NPK  15:15:15  (0.47kg/plot  or  783.33kg/ha)  and  spent mushroom  substrate  (0.19kg/plot  or  316.67kg/ha).  Hence,  the  use  of poultry  manure  as  organic  source  for  the  cultivation  of  cucumber  in  the study area would be recommended.