04593nam a22001937a 4500082002100000100002100021245012300042260008000165300001400245502000800259520393700267650002204204650001304226650002404239650003504263650001904298700002504317856005704342  a635.6bMIN/ST PG  aMintu Hanna Reji  aStandardisation of fertigation schedule for parthenocarpic cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) hybrid KPCH 1 under polyhouse  aVellanikkarabDepartment of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculturec2023  axiv, 65p.  aMSc3 aCucumber is an annual cucurbitaceous crop. It is grown throughout the world 
for its tender, crisp and immature fruits. It is mainly used as a salad crop. Parthenocarpic 
cucumber has more consumer preference as they are seedless. KPCH 1 is a 
parthenocarpic cucumber hybrid developed by Kerala Agricultural University. 
Parthenocarpic cucumber varieties are preferred for cultivation under polyhouse, since 
pollination is not required for fruit set.
Fertigation is a technique in which water-soluble fertilizers are supplied through 
irrigation water. It is preferred over conventional fertilizer application methods due to 
its high nutrient and water use efficiency. Different studies have shown that fertilizer 
recommendation for cucumber varies drastically across India. At present, KAU has an 
ad hoc recommendation for precision farming in vegetables. The optimum dose of 
fertilizers has to be standardised for obtaining the highest yield and thereby increasing 
the income of farmers. Hence the present investigation was conducted with the objective 
of standardisation of fertigation schedule and evaluation of different levels of fertigation 
on yield and quality of KPCH 1 grown under polyhouse.
The study was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, College of 
Agriculture, Vellanikkara during January to March, 2022. The experiment was 
conducted in a randomised block design with seven levels of fertigation viz., 100% 
RDF, 90% RDF, 80% RDF, 70% RDF, 60% RDF, 50% RDF and 70% RDF (100% P 
+ 25% N + 25% K as basal). Fertigation was given at three days interval. Trichodermaenriched FYM was applied at the rate of 15 t/ha uniformly to all the treatments. Fifty 
percent dose of recommended P was applied as basal in all the treatments except T7. In 
T7 100% P, 25% N and 25% K were applied as basal. Hundred percent recommended 
dose of fertilizers was 175:125:300 kg NPK/ha (30 splits). In the present study, only 20 
splits of fertilizers were applied because the crop ended early, 70 days after sowing due 
to high temperature. The actual quantity of fertilizer (20 splits) applied was at the rate 
of 116.67:104.2:200 kg NPK/ha (100% RDF).
Findings of the study revealed that fertigation had significant effect on growth 
and yield of cucumber. Hundred percent RDF recorded the highest vine length (2.88 m) 
and it was statistically on par with 90% RDF, 80% RDF and T7. Fertigation had 
significant effect on the number of days to first flower opening and parthenocarpic 
expression. Hundred percent RDF recorded the highest parthenocarpic expression and 
100% RDF along with T7 registered least number of days to first flower opening. 
However, the number of flowers per node did not exhibit any significant difference 
between treatments. The highest number of fruits per plant was observed in 100% RDF 
and 90% RDF. Moreover, highest yield was recorded in 100% RDF (2.66 kg/plant) and 
90% RDF (2.43 kg/plant). Average fruit length, average fruit girth and average fruit 
weight did not show any marked difference with different levels of fertigation. 
Similarly, number of harvests and days to first harvest were not influenced by nutrition 
level. Fertigation had no significant effect on TSS of fruits.
Benefit-cost ratio was found to be highest for 100% RDF (2.18) and the second 
highest B:C ratio was obtained for T7 (2.09). Incidence of pests like rodents, snails, 
serpentine leaf miners, white flies, thrips and mites were observed during the study. The 
crop was affected by diseases such as damping off, Rhizoctonia rot, melon yellow spot 
virus, downy mildew and bacterial wilt. Physiological disorders like crooked fruits were 
also observed during the study.
Thus, based on the present study it can be concluded that 100% RDF 
(116.67:104.2:200 kg NPK/ha) is the best fertigation dosage for obtaining maximum 
yield and B:C ratio for parthenocarpic cucumber KPCH 1 grown inside polyhouse.  aVegetable Science  aCucumber  aCurcumis sativus L.  aStandardisation of fertigation  aParthenocarpic  aDicto Jose M (Guide)  uhttps://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810215715