Effect of Drip Irrigation and Fertigation on Yield, Quality and InputUse Efficiency in Cucumber

摘要

Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of drip irrigation and fertigation on yield, quality, water and fertilizer use efficiency of cucumber hybrid SH-CH-1 during Kharif 2007-08. The experiment comprised of sixteen treatment combinations replicated four times. The treatments include 4 levels of irrigation viz: 100%, 80% & 60% ET trough drip and 100% surface irrigation; and 4 levels of fertilizers application viz; 100%, 80% and 60% recommended NPK through fertigation and 100% recommended NPKthrough manual. Surface irrigation and manual fertilizers application were treated as control. Observations were recorded for yield and quality characteristics. The results revealed that the treatment combination of 80% ET through drip + 80% recommendedNPK through fertigation produced maximum yield (1444.1 q/ha) and was significantly superior over all other treatments in terms of quality of cucumber fruit except vitamin C content, which was recorded maximum (46.30 mg/100 g) with treatment combinationof 100% ET through drip + 100% recommended NPK through fertigation. Water use efficiency was found significantly superior with 60% ET through drip over other treatments. The highest water use efficiency (106.3 q/ha cm) was noticed with the treatment combination of 60% ET through drip + 80% recommended NPK through fertigation. In terms of fertilize use efficiency, 60% recommended NPK through fertigation was found significantly superior over other treatments. The highest fertilizer use efficiency (NUE-32.5 q/kg N, PUE & KUE 75.9 q/kg P & K) was observed with the treatment combination of 80% ET through drip + 60% recommended NPK through fertigation. The highest benefit cost ratio (5.99:1) was noticed in best treatment combination i.e. 80% ET through drip+ 80% recommended NPK through fertigation.