Investigation on impacts of poultry manure application on yield, disease incidence and severity of cucumber (<i>Cucumis. Sativus L.</i>) in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Crop Science and Horticulture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, to determine the effects of different poultry manure rates on the growth, yield, disease incidence and severity of one variety of cucumber (Cucumis. sativus L.). The experimental site was cleared and the beds were made. Plot size was 3 m×1.5 m, while distance between each bed was 1m. The treatments comprised cucumber ‘999’ which received four poultry manure rates (0 tons/ha, 5 tons/ha, 10 tons/ha and 15tons/ha). The experiment was laid out in a 1×4 factorial in Randomised Complete Block Design in four replicates. Data collected included plant height, vine length, leaf area per plant, number of flowers per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit circumference, fruit weight, yield per hectare, disease incidence and severity. Results showed that poultry manure significantly increased growth and yield of cucumber plants, with 15 tons/ha giving the highest yield (20,183 ton/ha) followed by 10 tons/ha which produced 15,422 ton/ha, while the least was zero application which gave 9,789 tons /ha. Manure rates did not significantly affect some growth and yield attributes such as plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers and fruit circumference especially during the first two weeks after planting. Increased poultry manure rates led to increased incidence of Fusarium wilt of cucumber but this did not affect yield. Poultry manure rate of 15 tons/ha could be recommended for farmers in the study area for increased growth and yield of cucumber plants.