Response of cultivars, plant geometry and methods of fertilizer application on parthenocarpic cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under zero energy polyhouse condition during rainy season.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in naturally ventilated polyhouse in rainy season during 2007–08 and 2008–09 at Rajasthan Col lege of Agriculture, Udaipur (Raj.) to identify the most suitable cultivar, plant geometry and method of fertilizer appl ication in cucumber. The results revealed that cultivar ’Hilton'was significantly superior to enhance wive length (3.29 m), leaf area (500.99 cm2), days to first harvest (44.40 days), fruit set (51.04%), number of fruits per vine (30.89), average weight of fruit (105.28 g), fruit length(18.22 cm) and fruit width (3.62 cm) which ultimately gave maximum yield per vine (3.49kg) during rainy season. Significantly higher yield along with the growth and quality parameters were obtained in spacing 60 x 50 cm. The fruit yield per plant was significantly more at 60 x 50 cm, whereas significantly higher yield per square meter was recorded at 60 x 30 cm and least yield was recorded at 60 x 50 cm. Fertigation practice recorded significantly higher yield (14.49 kg/m2) as compared to conventional method (13.22 kg/m2).