Effects of Organic Manure and NPK Fertilizer Application on Selected Soil Properties, Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Author(s):
Udoh O. E, Umoh F. O, Etukudoh, N. E, Sunday, A. E, Bassey, E. Etisha
Journal:
Academians Journal of Biology
Abstract
A bag experiment was conducted in AKSU Research Farm in the early planting season of 2024 to evaluate the effects of Organic manure and NPK fertilizer application on selected soil properties, growth and yield of Cucumber (Cucumissativus L) in Obio Akpa. The treatments were T1 Control, T2 Goat manure, T3 Pig manure, T4 Poultry manure and T5 NPK fertilizer (12:12:17). The bags were arranged in a Complete Randomized (CRD) block design in three replications. The bags were filled with 10kg of soils and Cucumber seeds were planted at 2-3cm depth. The organic manures and NPK fertilizer were applied at two weeks before planting of seeds. Initial and post-harvest soil samples were collected acrossed the treatments, processed and analyzed for selected soil properties, Cucumber growth and yield data were sampled and analyzed at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks respectively. The results showed that application of organic manures and NPK fertilizer had significant effects on Cucumber vine length, numbers of leaves per plant, leaf area, fruit length and weight at different stages of growth. When compared with control, poultry and pig manures had significant effects on Cucumber growth and yield parameters generally. The results showed that organic manures, especially poultry manure, significantly improved soil pH, organic matter, and effective cation exchange capacity, resulting in better plant growth and higher yields. Poultry manure-treated soils had the highest organic matter content (2.31%) and produced the longest mean vines (138.8 cm) and heaviest fruits (228 g). NPK fertilizer also enhanced early vegetative growth but had a lesser impact on long-term soil properties due to nutrient leaching. Control plots exhibited poor growth and yield, highlighting the importance of fertilizer application. The treatments were significant at p<0.05 level. The correlation results showed that organic matter correlated significantly positive with total exchangeable bases (TEB), r=0.910*, Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), r= 0.978**, Cucumber vine length, r= 0.935*, Number of leaves/plant r= 0.912*, Fruit weight, r=0.932*, Fruit length, r= 0.902* and fruit circumference, r= 0.970*. Therefore, the application of organic manure especially Poultry manure was recommended for the improvement of Soil's fertility, and Cucumber production.
Keywords:
Organic manures, Soil Fertility, Nutrient Availability, Soil structure, Cucumber yield.