YIELD AND POST-HARVEST QUALITIES OF CUCUMBER AS INFLUENCED BY COMPANION PLANTING

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ABSTRACT

The popularity of cucumber has been on the increase over the years due to its nutritional and economic benefits. A field experiment was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, (Longitude 708070N, latitude 504960E) to evaluate the influence of companion plants on the yield and post-harvest quality of cucumber. The hybrid cucumber seeds were bought from Agro-dealers in Akure. The companion crops which include sunflower, mint and marigold seedlings were obtained from the university’s teaching and research farm. A row plot was used for the study; each plot was 2m long and 1 meter between beds. The plots were separated by 1 meter. A total of 4 plots constituted a replicate. Data collected were analyzed using GLM procedure of SAS version 9.3 (2012). Findings indicted that the companion plants did not have significant impact on the vegetative characteristics of the plants. Significant differences existed for the yield and yield components of cucumber while insignificant differences were observed on the effect of companion plants on the post-harvest quality of cucumber. From the study, marigold as a companion plant had the most positive impact on the yield and yield components of cucumber. This is hence, recommended for further evaluation as thus approach can help mitigate the negative effect of synthetic pesticides on the soil quality as well as human health.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION2

CERTIFICATION3

DEDICATION4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT5

ABSTRACT6

Table 4: Mean Separation for Leaf Length - - - - - 2613

Table 5: Mean separation for leaf breadth - - - - - 2813

Table 6: Mean Separation for leaf area - - - - - - 2913

Table 7: Mean Separation for number of leaves - - - - 3113

Table 8: Mean Separation - - - - - - - 3313

Table 9: Mean separation for disease incidence - - - - 3413

Table 10: Mean separation for number of fruits per plant - - - 3613

Table 11: Mean Separation for yield parameters - - - - 3713

Table 13: Mean Separation for Firmness - - - - - 4013

Table 14: Mean Separation for colour change - - - - - 4113

Table 15 Mean Separation for Rottenness - - - - - 4213

Table 16 Mean Separation for Taste - - - - - - 4313

1.0 INTRODUCTION14

1.1 Description of the Major Crop (Cucumber)14

1.2 Description of the Associate Crops14

1.3 Origin, Distribution and Economic Importance of Cucumber15

1.4 Influence of Associate Crops on yield16

1.5 Problem Statement17

1.6 Research Justification17

1.7 Objectives of the research18

CHAPTER TWO19

2.0 Literature Review19

2.1 Taxonomy and Adaptation19

2.2 Uses19

2.3 Nutritional value20

2.4 Production20

2.6 Soil and climatic requirement22

2.7 Cultivation22

2.8 Management23

2.9 Pest and Diseases24

2.10 Harvest and Yield24

2.11 Influence of associate crops on yield25

2.12.2 Ethylene Injury26

2.13 Sustainable Agronomic practices and benefits of cucumber with sunflower, mint and marigold27

2.14 Storage28

CHAPTER THREE30

3.0 Material and methods30

3.1 Materials30

3.2 Experimental site30

3.3 Experimental design31

3.4 Field layout32

3.5 Planting32

3.5 Crop management32

3.6 Data collection33

3.7 Data analysis35

CHAPTER FOUR36

4.0 RESULTS36

4.1 Mean separation for growth parameters36

4.1.1 Mean separation for vine length36

4.1.2 Mean separation for leaf length38

Table 4: Mean Separation for Leaf Length39

4.1.3 Mean separation for leaf breadth39

Table 5: Mean separation for leaf breadth41

Table 6: Mean Separation for leaf area42

4.1.5 Mean separation for number of leaves42

Table 7: Mean Separation for number of leaves44

4.2 Mean separation for pest and disease indices44

4.2.1 Mean separation for leaf infestation44

4.2.2 Mean Separation for diseases incidence45

Table 8: Mean Separation45

Table 9: Mean separation for disease incidence46

4.3 Mean separation for yield and yield components47

4.3.1 Mean separation for number of fruits per plant47

4.3.2 Mean separation for yield parameters47

Table 10: Mean separation for number of fruits per plant48

Table 11: Mean Separation for yield parameters49

4.4 Mean separation for post-harvest parameters49

4.4.1 Mean separation for moisture loss.49

4.4.2 Mean separation for firmness50

4.4.3 Mean separation for colour change50

4.4.4 Mean separation for rottenness50

Table 13: Mean Separation for Firmness51

Table 14: Mean Separation for colour change52

Table 15 Mean Separation for Rottenness53

Table 16 Mean Separation for Taste54

5.0 DISCUSSION56

6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION58

6.1 Conclusion58

6.2 Recommendation58

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YIELD AND POST-HARVEST QUALITIES OF CUCUMBER AS INFLUENCED BY COMPANION PLANTING

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