Effects of Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on the Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) Varieties

Abstract

Cucumber is a vegetable mostly consumed fresh as a snack or in salads, soups, smoothies, boats, roll-ups, dips, dressing and ice pops. Problems affecting the production of cucumber in the tropics are low soil fertility and low yielding varieties. Therefore, this research assessed the influence of phosphorus fertilizer rates on growth and yield of cucumber varieties at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo state. The treatments involved three varieties of cucumber (Amarisa Super, Oliveira Bold and Oliveira Super) subjected to five level of phosphorus fertilizer rates (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 kgP2O5/ha). The fifteen treatment combinations were laid out in a 3 x 5 factorial experiment fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data collected on growth and fruit yield were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The significance of the treatments effects was determined using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The result shows that phosphorus fertilizer rates significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the variables assessed. The growth parameters and fruit yield increased as the applied phosphorus rates increased from 0 up to 60kgP₂O₅. The fruit yield of the cucumber varied significantly among the varieties. The combination of Oliveira Bold Variety and 60kgP₂O₅/ha recorded highest (2.07 tons/ha) yield, closely followed by Oliveira Super Variety and 60 kgP₂O₅/ha which gave (1.81tons/ha) while the least (1.71 tons/ ha) fruit yield of cucumber was obtained with combination of Amarisa super and 60kgP₂O₅/ha. In conclusion, farmers in Ogbomoso can make use of Oliveira Bold Variety and 60kgP₂O₅/ha for optimal performance in cucumber production.