Soil Fertility Management among Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) Farmers in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria

Poor soil fertility reduces the yield, market value, and sustainable production of cucumber. This study examined soil fertility practices among cucumber farmers in Ibadan. A purposive sampling method was used to select 10% of cucumber farmers from six blocks, namely Akinyele, Lagelu, Egbeda, OnaAra, Oluyole, and Iddo in Ibadan-Ibarapa agricultural zone, Oyo State. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information on the soil fertility practices used for cucumber production. The data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis. A total of 63 respondents were assessed; Akinyele block had the highest representation (20.6%), followed by Egbeda (19%), with Oluyole recording the lowest (11.1%). Improved soil fertility was the primary reason for fertiliser application, cited by 95.2% of farmers. NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser was used by 79.4% farmers, while 4.8% used goat manure. Over half (52.4%) applied fertiliser without prior soil testing; among those, 56.7% testing using physical examination, 26.7% used laboratory procedures, and 16.6% used both physical and laboratory test. Fertiliser were applied at 20g/plant and 10g/plant by 34.9% and 15.9% of farmers, respectively, regardless of cucumber variety or soil nutrient status. Additionally, 61.9% applied fertiliser without nutrient specificity. Fertiliser was applied twice per cropping season by 49.2% of farmers, and once by 30.2%. Socio-economic characteristics of farmers, such as formal training and years of farming experience, showed a significant correlation with soil testing (r = −0.27; r = −0.25). The findings indicated that cucumber farmers mainly used NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser to improve soil fertility, yet most applied it without prior soil testing or nutrient specificity. Formal training and farming experience did not improve fertiliser and soil testing adoption. Extension programmes should prioritise soil testing, and variety-specific fertiliser rates should be developed to improve nutrient management efficiency among cucumber farmers in Ibadan