Response of mulch materials on growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) hybrid “Multistar” under shade net conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season, at College Farm”, College of Horticulture, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticulture University, Mojerla, Wanaparthy, Telangana State. The experiment was carried out using cucumber hybrid “Multistar” with eight treatments and three replications. Among different mulch materials, black-black polythene mulch recorded best results in all growth and yield parameters. Black-black polythene mulch has significantly recorded the highest plant height of 55.00, 155.07, 204.53 and 223.67 cm, maximum leaf area of 195.97, 278.53, 320.07 and 322.37 cm2 at 20, 40, 60 and 80 DAS respectively, maximum RGR of 0.0386, 0.0250 and 0.0026 g g d-1 and NAR of 7.60, 16.00 and 2.66 mg cm-2 d-1 were recorded at 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 DAS respectively. Black-black polythene mulch also recorded significantly maximum number of fruits per plant (63.67), average fruit length (16.39 cm) and average fruit diameter (3.67 cm) and fruit yield/plant (8.28 kg), fruit yield/bed (496.60 kg) and fruit yield/hectare (331.07 t ha-1). There is no significant difference observed on TSS and ascorbic acid among the treatments.