Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield & Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under Protected Cultivation

The present investigation entitled “Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on growth, yield & quality of cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) Under protected cultivation” was carried out in the Polyhouse of Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, during winter season from September to December 2021.The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete Block Design comprising of 10 treatments with three replications. The study revealed that the treatment T10(Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) 50% + Poultry manure 50%) performed best in terms of no. of leaves (107.62/plant),days to first flowering(36.94), days to harvest (62.33), fruit length (15.03 cm), fruit diameters (14.1 mm),number of fruits per plant (20.70),weight (162.40 g), yield per plot (3.26 Kg), yield per 200 sq.m (571.52 Kg) and Vitamin C (7.57 mg/100 g fresh fruit). However, treatment T7 (25% RDF + 75% FYM) has maximum number days to fruit set (57.36) and treatment T4(RDF 50% + FYM 50%) had highest soluble solid (3.77oBrix). The significantly higher gross return (Rs 17,145.6/ha), Net Profit (Rs 13,415.21/ha) and B:C ratio (3.59:1) was also recorded under treatment T10 ((RDF) 50% + Poultry manure 50%). Overall results revealed that T10 (RDF) 50% + Poultry manure 50%) was found to be the most suitable over all the other treatments in relation to growth and yield of Cucumber.