Standardization of NPK with fertigation in parthenocarpic cucumber under protected structure

The present experiment was undertaken to standardize NPK fertigation in cucumber under polyhouse at Vegetable Research Centre of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during two consecutive seasons, i.e. Summer 2020 and Winter 2020–21. The experiment was designed as a factorial randomized block design with an additional treatment that included four fertigation levels: F1 (120 % of RDF), F2 (100 % of RDF), F3 (80 % of RDF) and F4 (60 % of RDF). Two fertigation schedules were also included: S1, which applied 25 % of each N, P and K between days 6 and 35 Days After Sowing (DAS), 36 and 65 DAS, 66 and 95 DAS and 96 and 125 DAS, respectively and S2, which applied 25 %, 15 % and 20 % of N, P and K of fertigation levels between 6 and 35 DAS, respectively, 40 %, 15 % and 25 % of N, P and K of fertigation levels between 36 and 65 DAS, respectively, 20 %, 50 % and 40 % of N, P and K of fertigation levels between 66 and 95 DAS, respectively and 15 %, 20 % and 15 % of N, P and K of fertigation levels between 96 and 125 DAS, respectively. One control group (application of RDF to the soil with floods) was also included in the experiment and it was provided three times. The results of this study showed that timing and varying drip fertigation levels had a substantial impact on parthenocarpic cucumber performance. The parthenocarpic cucumber fertigation at 120 % RDF (F1) was the best among the various fertigation levels in terms of plant development characteristics, nutrient content and nutrient uptake. On the other hand, fertigation at 100 % RDF (F2) was the most effective in terms of the yield parameter. The best and most cost-effective method for growing cucumbers in a polyhouse is to fertigate parthenocarpic cucumbers at a ratio of 100:50:50 kg N, P and K per hectare by scheduling.