Effects of variety and organomineral fertiliser rate on cucumber yield and nutritional content in early and late seasons

Abstract

Abstract Amalgamation of inorganic and organic fertilisers can enhance the effectiveness of fertiliser application. Field experiments were conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture’s Teaching and Research Farm in Abeokuta, Nigeria (lat. 7°15’N and long. 3°25’E), to evaluate the impact of cucumber variety and rate of organomineral fertiliser on yield and nutritional value of three varieties of cucumber during the early and late growing seasons of 2019. Three replicates of a randomised complete block design were used in a split-plot layout used for the trial. Poinsett, Greengo, and Monalisa varieties were the main plot, while the subplots were organomineral fertiliser (OMF) rates of 0, 2.5, and 5.0 tons.ha −1 . Growth, fruit yield, and fruit proximate composition data were gathered and subjected to analysis of variance. More fruits/plant were produced by the Greengo variety than the Poinsett or Monalisa varieties. In the late season, fruits from the Poinsett variety had higher moisture content than those from the Monalisa variety. OMF rate of 5.0 tons.ha −1 produced highest fruit yield, followed by 2.5 tons.ha −1 OMF treatment whereas plots with no OMF produced the least fruit yield. Fruits from application of 5.0 tons.ha −1 OMF had higher ash content than from 2.5 tons.ha −1 OMF. Fruits from 2.5 tons.ha −1 OMF in the late season had higher content of crude protein than the 5.0 tons.ha −1 OMF in the early season of 2019. Fruits from unfertilised plots had the lowest ash, crude protein, and moisture content in both seasons. The results of the study show that the Poinsett variety with application of 5.0 tons.ha −1 can be commercially cultivated for high cucumber yield and nutritional value.