Effect of water hyacinth and neem based composts on growth, fruit yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), and/or neem(Azadirachta indica) based compost on the growth, fruit yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). The treatment consisted of six different fertilizer types, namely: 0 kg N/ha (control); 60 kg N/ha through mineral fertilizer (MF); 60 kg N/ha through Neem compost (NC); 30 kg N/ha through MF+30 kgN/ha through NC; 60 kg N/ha through water hyacinth compost (WC) and 30 kg N/ha through MF+30 kg N/ha through WC. The treatments were laid out as randomized complete block design with three replicates. Parameter assessed were length of vine, vine girth, number of leaves, leaf area, number of flowers, fruit yield and nutritional quality. Application of different fertilizer types had significant effects on all the parameters taken. Combined application of 30 kg N/ha through MF and 30 kg N/ha through WC gave plants with the largest vine length, vine girth, leaf area, number of leaves, as well as fruit yield per plant. The values obtained for these parameters using this treatment (30 kg MF + 30 kg WC) were significantly higher than what was obtained with non-fertilized plants (control). However, the use of 60 kg N/ha through WC and 60 kg N/ha through NC gave the best fruit nutritional composition. It was therefore concluded that application of 60 kg N/ha through WC and 60 kg N/ha through NC or combine application of 30 kg N/ha through MF + 30 kg N/ha and WC should be optimal for good growth, fruit yield and nutritional value of C. sativus. Key words: Water hyacinth compost, neem compost, cucumber, fruit yield, fruit quality.