Asian Journal of Plant and Soil Sciences

Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus to assess the effect of poultry-based organic manure combinations on growth and yield of cucumber in Obio Akpa, 2023. The experiment was laid out in a randomize complete block design and replicated three times. The treatments used were T1 (Poultry manure); T2 (Poultry manure + Piggery droppings); T3 (Poultry manure + Cattle droppings); T4 (Poultry manure + Rabbit droppings); T5 (Poultry manure + Piggery droppings + Cattle droppings); T6 (Poultry manure + Piggery droppings + Cattle droppings + Rabbit droppings) applied at 40g and control. Result showed Significant differences (P<0.05) among the Poultry manure combinations at 4, 6, 8 Weeks After Planting (WAP) on the growth parameters (vine length, vine girth, number of leaves and number of vines) whereas the yield showed significant differences (P<0.05) among the Poultry manure combinations on all the components. Longest vine length (112.23cm, 145.21cm) were obtained at 6 and 8 WAP with T4 and T3 respectively. T4 produced high vine girth (3.69cm, 3.94cm) at 6 and 8 WAP whereas highest number of vines were produces at 6 and 8 WAP. The treatment T6 gave higher values of number of vines at 2, 4, 6, 8 WAP. Application of T6 produced significant larger fruit yield of 22.71 t/ha while treatment combination of T5 produced 22.60 t/ha fruit yield. Treatment with T4 had 19.25 t/ha fruit yield, while T2 had 18.23 t/ha fruit yield. The treatment of sole application of Pm produced fruit yield of 16.20 t/ha fruit yield compared to the least fruit yield of 7,10 t/ha recorded in control treatment. Considering that the fruit yield of 22.71 t/ha obtained from T6 was not significantly different when compared with 22.60 t/ha recorded in treatment of T5. Therefore, T6 was recommended to cucumber farmers.