Abstract
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is the important vegetable crop in Pakistan. Macronutrients deficiency severely affected growth and yield of cucumber. Therefore the experiment was designed to evaluate response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) to calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels in the year of 2014. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Bock Design (RCBD) having sixteen treatment combinations, replicated three times. Foliar application of Calcium @ (0, 10, 15, 20 mM) and Magnesium @ (0, 30, 40, 50, mM) were applied to the plants. Application of calcium and magnesium significantly affected all the growth parameters. Less number of days (39) to first flowering, number of days (49) to fruit initiation, highest vine length (74.66 cm), number of branches plant-1 (6.05), number of pickings plot-1 (8), fruit length (15.02 cm), fruit diameter (4.00), number of fruits plant-1 (9.27) and yield (8.03) tons ha-1 was observed with foliar application of 10 mM calcium. Whereas less number of days (37) to first flowering, number of days (48) to fruit initiation, maximum vine length (72.66 cm), number of branches plant-1 (5.87), number of pickings plot-1 (7.83), fruit length (15.04 cm), fruit diameter (4.43 cm) number of fruit plant-1 (9.04), and yield (10.79) tons ha-1 was observed with foliar application of 30 mM magnesium. While In case of interaction, number of days (31) to first flowering, days to fruit initiation (45), fruit length (17.27 cm), fruit diameter (5.93 cm), number pickings-1 (9), and yield tons ha-1(12.70) were produced by interaction between Ca x Mg at the rate of 10mM and 30 mM respectively. Hence foliar application of calcium @ 10 mM and magnesium @ 30 mM is recommended for the better growth and yield of cucumber at Peshawar. Keywords: Cucumis sativus; Calcium Magnesium dose; Foliar application; Growth and yield http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2017.60040
Highlights
The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Bock Design (RCBD) having sixteen treatment combinations, replicated three times
Foliar application of calcium @ 10 mM and magnesium @ 30 mM is recommended for the better growth and yield of cucumber at Peshawar
The results and discussion of the recorded data regarding response of Cucumber to calcium and magnesium levels are briefly explained as; Days to first flowering The analysis of variance showed that calcium and magnesium has significant effect on the flowering of cucumber
Summary
Ca+Mg the help auger at two depths i.e. 0-15 and 1530 cm. Electrical Conductivity was determined by the method suggested by [11]. Soil pH was determined by using protocol described by [12]. Organic matter in soil was determined by the modified method of Walkyley-Black as described by [13]. Organic matter (%) = (meq K2Cr2O7-meq Feso4)x meq of C Weight of dry sample x (0.75). Where 0.75 is derived from the assumption that only 75% of organic matter is oxidized in this method and Meq of C is 0.003.Soil texture was determined by Hydrometer Method [14]. The Ca2+ + Mg2+ concentration in paste extract were determined according to the method described by [15].
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