Response of cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.) To different rates of goat and poultry manure on an ultisol

Abstract

The growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumus sativus L.) in response to application of goat dung and poultry dropping rates was investigated in 2010 and 2011. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design replicated three times in a split plot arrangement. The main plot treatment was organic manure source (goat dung and poultry dropping) while organic manure rate, 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8t/ha constituted the sub-treatments. Results revealed that organic manure application would enhance growth and yield of cucumber. There was no significantly (p<0.05) different between application of goat dung and poultry dropping on growth and yield parameters except on leaf area. The result also showed significantly (p<0.05) different among the manure rates irrespective of manure source. Application of poultry dropping performed best in fresh fruit yield 7.66 and 7.73t/ha in 2010 and 2011 respectively while goat dung produced 6.81 and 6.82t/ha in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The application of 8t/ha of poultry manure produced fresh fruits of 11.25 and 11.29t/ha in 2010 and 2011 respectively while goat dung at 8t/ha rate produced 9.53 and 9.69t/ha of fresh fruit in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

 Keywords: Cucumber, Poultry Manure, Goat Manure