INFLUENCE OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON THE YIELD, NUTRIENT STATUS AND QUALITY OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L.)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different organic manures and their combinations with bio-fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers in comparison with recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) @ 100:50:50 kg NPK on the cucumber production and quality. The results indicated that application of FYM (10 t) or vermicompost (2t) + Bio-fertilizers + ½ recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) ha-1 resulted significantly higher yield of 111q and 106 q ha-1 respectively compared to the application of RDF (84 q ha-1) and on par yields with other treatments except with the application of green leaf manure 5t ha-1 + Bio-fertilizers (68 q ha-1). Higher benefit cost ratio of 1: 2.1 was observed with the application of FYM 10 t ha-1 + Biofertilizers (N & P sources) + ½ RDF. The quality parameters indicated that the Vit. ‘C’, total carotenes and  – carotenes were high in the cucumber fruits produced with integrated nutrient management compared to the treatments where organic manures or RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer) alone were applied as individual treatments. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in fruit and leaf were high comparatively in the treatments where the integrated nutrient management component was involved than that of the treatments where the organic manures and RDF alone were applied