Growth Response of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers under Shade House Conditions

Abstract— The germination and growth of Cucumis sativus were studied by comparing the efficacy of selected organic (rabbit manure, goat manure, and fermented fruit tea) and inorganic Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK) 11-22-22 fertilizers at a rate of 40g applied in 2 intervals. Cucumis sativum was grown for 3 months under shade house conditions in grow bags using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. Each block represented 40 plants with 8 plants per treatment. Although there was no statistical significance between the organic manures within the parameters tested, all organic manure was significantly different from the NPK in their effects. The fermented fruit tea treatment had the highest seedling growth rate as well as the highest germination percentage. The fruit tea also had the highest germination rate index after 5 days however the rabbit manure had the highest overall germination rate index as well as the highest number of plants flowering at the start of measurement. The NPK showed the lowest values overall. One-way analysis of variance was utilized for group comparison with significance noted at P<0.05 in germination rate and flowering. These comparisons were performed on essential germination rate and percent along with the time of flowering. This study shows that these organic treatments can have a positive effect on the germination percentage, germination rate, and plant growth of cucumbers. This research has provided valuable and statistically significant information to augment claims that organic fertilizers such as rabbit and goat manures along with fermented fruit tea, offer essential nutrients and can be used as a suitable alternative to inorganic fertilizers for those farmers wishing to move into organic farming of cucumbers.