Abstract
Sustainable cucumber production requires optimized agronomic practices that are adaptive to changing climates as well as enhanced crop yield and fruit quality. Commercial Greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the effect of differential pruning on the growth and yield of cucumber in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria. The treatments consisted of two hybrid cucumber varieties (Sirana F1 and Marketer) and four pruning regimes (No pruning, pruning at 4, 5 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS). These were laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design with three replications. Analysis of variance shows that pruning regime significantly (P<0.05) influenced plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, days to physiological maturity, unit fruit weight (kg) and total yield. Further, pruning at 4 WAS resulted in better growth in terms of plant height and the number of leaves per plant which ultimately enhances yield. Delayed pruning at 5 WAS resulted in the highest yield (14 tons ha-1) which coincides with the period when leaves, side branches, and profuse flowers can be efficiently pruned for better yield and fruit quality. In conclusion, for better growth and yield in hybrid cucumber varieties under greenhouse conditions, pruning should be delayed until 4th to 6th weeks after sowing. Key words: Pruning regime, cucumber, yield, variety.
Highlights
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important versatile vegetables grown throughout the year in Nigeria because of its wide range of uses
Despite the increasing realization of the importance of cucumber and its relevance as one of the major vegetables in Nigeria, attainable yields and overall productivity in farmer's fields are seriously constrained by inappropriate agronomic practices, pests, and diseases, high fruit perishability as compounded by climate change
The treatments consisted of two hybrid cucumber varieties (Sirana F1 and Marketer) and four pruning regimes (0, 4, 5 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS)) where 0 WAS represent control
Summary
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important versatile vegetables grown throughout the year in Nigeria because of its wide range of uses. One approach to this is the protected cultivation which is an agrotechnology that involves covering the crop to allows regulation of macro- and microenvironments, facilitating optimal plant growth and development, the extension of growth duration, induction of earliness, and improved yield and quality (Gruda and Tanny, 2014, 2015). Greenhouses which are a form of protected cultivation, present good opportunities in vegetable productions in Nigeria where issues of seasonality and produce perishability persisted It presents a major advantage over open field production and a powerful tool in coping with climate change impacts
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