Poultry manure rate affects growth, yield and pest infestation of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Cultivation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is on the increase in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State in response to increasing demands. However, nutrient deficiency and insect pests are major constraints to cultivation. This study determined the poultry manure (PM) rate required for optimum growth, fruit yield and reduced pest infestation on cucumber from field trials carried out in Sedfort Farms, Ogbe-Eruku (7o 00’ N 3o 47’ E) between July and September 2023 for first planting (FP) and between October and December 2023 for residual planting (RP). Trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The PM was applied at 0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1 on the plots. Data collected on growth between 2 and 8 weeks after planting, as well as data on fruiting were subjected to Analysis of Variance. Significantly different treatment means (P≤ 0.05) were separated using Least Significant Difference at 5% probability level. In both trials, cucumber treated with 10 or 15 t ha-1 PM had longer vines, higher number of leaves and wider average leaf area than no PM. Cucumber that received 10 or 15 t ha-1 PM had higher yield per hectare than no PM in FP (50.25% or 52.19%) and in RP (50.20% or 69.66%) respectively. Cucumber that received 0 or 5 tha-1 PM in RP, had the least insect population density (IPD) while 10 or 15 tha-1 PM treatments had higher IPD, with 46.03% or 49.21%, respectively. Leaf damage was least for unfertilized cucumber. Plants treated with 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1 PM had leaf damage of 62.41%, 70.43% and 102.41% in FP and 60.47%, 57.27% and 70.49% in RP, respectively. Optimum cucumber fruit yield was from application of PM at 10 t ha-1. This study concluded that application of PM at 10 t ha-1 could be adopted for reduced insect pests’ infestation and optimum cucumber growth and yield fruit production in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State and environments with similar climate.