Collen Musara, James Chitamba
Cucumber responds well to organic fertilizers preferably cattle manure. However, the production requirements of this crop are seldom known. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of cattle manure on the growth rate and fruit yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativas L.). A field experiment was conducted at University of Zimbabwe Farm, under dry land conditions during the 2006-2007 season, laid in a randomized complete block design with 4 treatments replicated 5 times. Clay soils were used while cattle manure was applied to all the soils at levels of 0 t ha-1, 5 t ha-1, 10 t ha-1, and 20 t ha-1. Cattle manure was broadcasted using a spreader and growth measurements were taken as from 4 weeks after crop emergence and at 2 weeks subsequent intervals up to the senescence of the vines. Results showed that vine length, number of branches, leaf number, both female and male flowers per main vine and total fresh yield significantly increased (p<0.05) with an increase in the amount of cattle manure applied. Cattle manure application rate of 20 t ha-1 gave the highest growth rate and fruit yield followed by 10 t ha-1 and then 5 t ha-1. The control treatment gave the least of all the rates. The study showed that application of 20 t ha-1 of cattle manure enhances the production of C. sativus crop.
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