Effect of foliar application of boron, iron and zinc on growth, yield and economics of cucumber grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of
foliar application of boron, iron and zinc on growth, yield
and economics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown
under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition during
Kharif season, 2018 in the polyhouse located at College
campus, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. The
experiment was carried out under Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and 15
treatments. The important growth and yield parameters
encompassed in the study viz., node at first flower appear
(5.44), days to first flowering (27.90), days to 50 % flowering
(38.75), days to first picking (44.19), number of nodes plant-
1 (55.62), number of leaves plant-1 (62.83), leaf area (523.47
cm2), fruit set (60.26 %), vine length (4.36 m), number of
fruits plant-1 (27.97), fruit length (18.67 cm), fruit diameter
(4.46 cm), fruit girth (12.57 cm), average fruit weight (144.05
g), fruit volume (139.93 cc), fruit yield (4.02 kg plant-1 and
67.00 t ha-1), biological yield plant-1 (5.74 kg), harvest index
(70.03 %) and harvest duration (58.29 days) were
significantly superior with the combine foliar application of
Zinc 30 ppm + Boron 40 ppm (T15) followed by Zinc 30 ppm
+ Boron 20 ppm (T14). Net return (Rs. 628660.38) and B: C
ratio (3.58) was concerned maximum with the combine
application of Zinc 30 ppm + Boron 40 ppm (T15). On the
basis of results of present investigation, it can be concluded
that foliar application of boron, iron and zinc were found
effective in enhancing the growth, yield and economics of
cucumber grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse
condition.