Standardization of NPK Fertigation in Parthenocarpic Cucumber Cucumis Sativus under Polyhouse

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineThe present experiment was undertaken to standardize the NPK fertigation in newlinecucumber under polyhouse at Vegetable Research Centre (VRC) of G.B. Pant University of newlineAgriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar (Uttarakhand) during two consecutive newlineseasons i.e. March to July-2020 (Summer) and October to February 2020-21 (Winter). The newlineexperiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with one additional treatment newlineconsisting of four fertigation levels F1: 120 percent of RDF, F2: 100 percent of RDF, F3: 80 newlinepercent of RDF, F4: 60 percent of RDF and two fertigation scheduling viz., S1: 25 percent of newlineeach N, P2O5 and K2O between 06-35 days after sowing (DAS), 36-65 DAS, 66-95 DAS and newline96-125 DAS, respectively and S2: 25, 15 and 20 percent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels newlinebetween 06 to 35 DAS, respectively, 40, 15 and 25 percent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation newlinelevels between 36 to 65 DAS, respectively, 20, 50 and 40 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of newlinefertigation levels between 66 to 95 DAS, respectively, 15, 20 and 15 percent N, P2O5 and newlineK2O of fertigation levels between 96 to 125 DAS, respectively, along with one control (soil newlineapplication of RDF with flooding) replicated thrice. newlineThe finding of present study revealed that the performance of parthenocarpic newlinecucumber significantly influence by different drip fertigation levels and scheduling. Among newlinethe different fertigation levels, fertigation of parthenocarpic cucumber at 120 percent of RDF newline(F1) was found best in respect of plant growth characters, quality and nutrient content in plant newlineas well as in fruits and nutrient uptake in plant. Whereas, fertigation at 100 percent of RDF newline(F2) found best with respect to yield parameter, yield (103.92 and 109.14 t ha-1), water use newlineefficiency (624.38 and 867.24 kg ha-1mm-1), net return (and#8377;101322.84 and and#8377;109534.89) and newlinebenefit cost ratio (2.86 and 3.02). Among the two scheduling tested, S2 was found best in the newlineterms of growth parameters, yield parameters and yield, quality parameters, nutrient content newlineand nutrient uptake in plant and fruit, water use efficiency, net returns (and#8377;81430.67 and newlineand#8377;88803.19) and benefit cost ratio (2.51 and 2.63). Fertigation at 100% RDF (F2) through newlinescheduling S2 recorded significantly higher yield (105.74 and 111.13 t ha-1), net return newline(and#8377;104090.80 and and#8377;112580.80) and benefit cost ratio (2.91 and 3.06) and was best treatment newlinecombination. newlineBased on the overall performance, it could be concluded that under polyhouse newlinecondition fertigation of parthenocarpic cucumber at 100:50:50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per ha newlinethrough scheduling is the best and most economical for cultivation of cucumber under newlinepolyhouse. Hence, the same is recommended for commercial cultivation. newline(Dhirendra Singh) (Abhilash Singh) newlineAdvisor Author newline