Effects of poultry manure supplemented by NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer on cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus L.</i>) production in Port Harcourt (Nigeria)

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a newly introduced exotic crop in Port Harcourt (Nigeria) that is in high demand, but due to inadequate production and distance from areas of mass production, the supply is highly limited. Replicate field plots were employed in the experiments aimed at determining the effects of poultry manure supplemented by NPK 15:15:15 on cucumber for a period of two seasons. Three poultry manure (PM) levels; 0, 5 and 10 t/ha, two levels of NPK 15:15:15 60 and 120 kg/ha and the combination of the different levels of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer were used, respectively. The pertinent growth, yield and soil parameters were then determined. Results of the analysis show that various combined nutrients treated plots significantly influenced vine length and leaf area than the plots that were treated with single nutrients and control. The best result of the fruit yield were obtained from plots treated with 5 t/ha of poultry manure supplemented with 120 kg/ha of NPK and 10 t/ha PM supplemented with 60 kg/ha NPK (18.24 and 19.30 t/ha) for wet and dry seasons, respectively. Soil analysis result show that treatments applied at various levels increased soil fertility. The result of the study showed that the best crop yield was obtained on cucumber during dry season farming.

Keywords: Cucumber, vine length, leaf area, fruit yield, NPK 15:15:15, poultry manure, exotic crop