Effect of fertigation on growth and fruit yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition

The experiment was conducted during two consecutive years, rabi- 2019-20 and rabi-2020-2021 in polyhouse condition at Zonal Research Station, Chianki, Palamau, Jharkhand, sub-zone – V to study the effect of different levels of fertigation on growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design in four replications with six fertigation treatments viz. T1 - 120% RDF, T2 - 110% RDF, T3 - 100% RDF, T4 - 90% RDF, T5 - 80% RDF and T6 - Control. The treatments were replicated four times. Among all the treatments, minimum days to first flowering, minimum days to first picking, maximum number of primary branches and harvest duration were recorded with application of T3- 100% RDF for both the years. The yield attributes viz. maximum average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per hectare were recorded highest with the application of 100% RDF. Therefore, drip irrigation lead to improvement in cucumber plant growth and yield, especially with the application of 100% RDF compared to others.