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EFFECT OF NPK FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.)

Dept: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE File: Word(doc) Chapters: 1-5 Views: 3

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the crop pavilion, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin in the southern Guinea savannah ecology to determine the effect of NPK fertilizer application on the growth and yield of three cucumber varieties. The experiment was designed as a 3×5 factorial in RCBD, arranged in split-plots and replicated three times. The main plots consisted of three cucumber varieties (Marketer, Marketmore and Poinsett), while the sub-plots were made up of five levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100kgNha-1) of NPK fertilizer. Plant growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of branches per plant, leaf area per plant, number of male, female and total number of flowers) as well as yield characteristics (dry matter, fruit length, fruit circumference, number of fruits per plant and fruit fresh weight) were measured. Data were analyzed by the Analysis of Variance, using the split-plots model and significant means were separated by the Least Si

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background Information

The cucumber most likely originated in India (south foot of the Himalayas), or possibly Burma, where the plant is extremely variable both vegetative and in fruit characters. It has been in cultivation for at least 3000 years. From India the plant spread quickly to China, and it was reportedly much appreciated by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Romans used highly artificial methods of growing the cucumber when necessary to have it for the Emperor Tiberius out of season.

Roman Empire was the place where cucumbers were truly embraced by both nobility and lower classes. The ease of production and wide variety of types and tastes ensured that cucumbers remained popular in Italy for several centuries. In addition to eating, cucumbers were also widely used as a source of several medicinal remedies (both cultivated and wild cucumbers of cucumbers were used for creation of over various 40 remedies). They treated everything from bad eyesight, scared mices, cured scorpion bites, and carried around wastes by wives who wished to have children. The most famous example of cucumbers fascination in Ancient Rome came during the short reign of Emperor Tiberius (14 – 16 AD) who demanded to eat cucumber on every day of the year. During summer special gardens were tended just for his vegetables, and in winter cucumber was grown on moveable bed frames that were moved to be exposed to the sun, or illuminated with the mirror-stones.

Age of Discovery proved to be a very important factor of spreading cucumber all across the word. Christopher Columbus brought cucumbers to Haiti in 1494 where they were grown by Spanish settlers and distributed further across New World. During 16th century, European trappers in North America introduced cucumbers to the native Indians in the region of Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Those tribes quickly saw the potential and nutritious value of cucumbers and watermelons, integrating them into immediately into their fields.

In 2010 worldwide cucumber production was 57.5 million tons, with majority of the world’s production and export being located in China (40.7 million tons).

Most of the distinct types of cucumber grown today were known at least 400 years ago. Present forms range from thick, stubby little fruits, three to four inches long, up to the great English greenhouse varieties that often reach a length of nearly two feet.

• Health benefits of cucumber

The health benefits of cucumber include:

1. Calories in cucumber are very low and it contains just 15 grams of calories per 100 grams. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
2. Cucumber peel is a very good source of dietary fibre that helps to reduce constipation, indigestion and prevents stomach related diseases by eliminating toxic compounds from the gut.
3. It also has healing attributes in relation to the diseases of urinary bladder and kidney. The water content in cucumber aids the function of kidney by promoting urination. Regular consumption of cucumber can also dissolve kidney stones over time.
4. Digestive problems like heartburn, acidity, gastritis and even ulcer can be cured by daily consumption of cucumber or cucumber juice. It can also treat the problem of constipation.  It contains an enzyme called Erepsin which aids in the digestion of protein.
5. Not just cucumber and its juice, but its seeds are also highly beneficial.  Cucumber seeds are considered as a natural remedy to eliminate tape worm from intestinal tracts. The seeds also have anti inflammatory properties which are effective in the treatment of swellings of mucous membranes of the nose and throat.

1.1.2    Skin benefits of cucumber

Most of the hair care and skin care products are manufactured using cucumber as one of its main ingredients. The raw fruit is also used in many beauty parlours in facial processes to reduce wrinkles and puffiness around the eyes. Some of the major skin benefits of cucumber are:

1. The greatest and most important skin benefit of cucumber is revitalisation of the skin. Facial masks containing cucumber juice are beneficial for skin tightening.
2. It has a mild bleaching property which can reverse skin tanning and get youthful and glowing skin.
3. If you are worried about eye puffiness then cucumbers can provide you with instant relief. The ascorbic acid and caffeic acid in cucumber brings down the water retention rate which in turn diminishes the swelling and puffiness around the yes.
4. Putting cucumber slices or puree on sunburnt skin brings instant relief. Thus cucumber is a natural and gentle way to treat sun burn.
5. The most common use of cucumber pulp and juice is to improve complexion and rejuvenate the skin. Mix cucumber juice with a few drop of lemon juice and apply it as a facial mask. This will improve the complexion and will add a glow to the skin.

1.1.3  Cucumber benefits for hair

1. The most important benefit of cucumber for hair is its hair strengthening properties. Cucumber in the form of the juice contributes to the hair growth primarily due to its content of silicon, sulphur sodium, phosphorus and calcium which are some of the most needed nutrients required for hair growth.  Drink cucumber juice daily to control hair fall.
2. Cucumber juice can also be used as a hair rinse to get silky and shiny hair. It conditions the hair and makes it more manageable.

Other uses of cucumber include:

1. Cucumber can also be used to remove stubborn stains and tarnish from stainless steel tools in the house. It also restores the lost shine of the tools.  Chemicals found in cucumber are also used in making shoe polishes to make them more their shiny.
2. Place slices of cucumbers in containers around the garden to control slugs and pest of the area. The chemical in these vegetables releases a scent which wards of the pests and insects.

However, cucumbers are not entirely reaction free; they do have some side effects. Some of these are:

1. Allergies, especially around oral cavity, itchiness and swelling may also develop due to allergy. This can be redeemed by cooking the food rather than eaten it in its raw form.
2. Cucumber can also lead to gastritis problems in some people which are mainly caused due to a compound known as cucurbitacin which causes indigestion. This can be avoided by eating cucumbers which have undergone breeding or whose compound has been removed.
3. Cucumber can also cause toxicity and baldness caused by chemicals found in the cucumbers. This usually happens when one consumes excess of cucumber.

1.2 Statement of Experimental Problems

The traditional system of restoring soil fertility through shifting cultivation in most African countries is giving way to continuous cropping on the same land which is due to limited available arable land for cultivation; this has resulted in gradual depletion of the soil fertility and crop yield (Ojeniyi et al., 2008). The invention of chemical/inorganic fertilizers has allowed man to raise soil productivity higher than could be attained by relying on natural recycling process. Many studies of various crops have shown significant advantages of applying inorganic fertilizers (Akinride, 2006). However, very little or no information existed in Nigeria on the response of cucumber to soil amendment either using organic or inorganic fertilizer. There is therefore the urgent need to evaluate the response of cucumber varieties to fertilizer application.

• Justification for the study

Cucurbitaceae family to which cucumber is an important member of fruit vegetables all over the world. It is one of the largest groups and its wide adaptation to wider environment ranging from acid to the humid tropic makes it a universal crop (Bates et al., 1990).

Cucumber is a major fruit crop that is eaten raw, cooked among many beneficial uses. It serves as a major source of vitamins; still it is low in productivity owing to several factors, with nutrient/water observed to be the limiting factor (Ayatamuno et al., 2007). Currently with improved standard of living and increasing population, there is high demand for exotic food materials of which cucumber is one.

However, the quantity been produced cannot meet the consumers demand (Opara et al 2012). Many studies of various crops have shown significant advantages of applying inorganic fertilizers (Akinride, 2006). It is important to know the appropriate rate of application of fertilizer as improper use can cause toxicities (Morteza 2010).

Hence there is need to evaluate the possibility of increasing production of cucumber using inorganic fertilizer.

1.4 Objective of the study

It is therefore the objectives of the study to:

(i) evaluate the effect of different rates of inorganic fertilizer using NPK 20:10:10, on the growth and yield parameters of cucumber,

(ii) evaluate varietal responses to treatment application under a southern Guinea savanna agro ecology