04695nam a22002177a 4500 290562 290562 635.6 MIN/ST PG Mintu Hanna Reji Standardisation of fertigation schedule for parthenocarpic cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) hybrid KPCH 1 under polyhouse Vellanikkara Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture 2023 xiv, 65p. MSc Cucumber 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. Vegetable Science Cucumber Curcumis sativus L. Standardisation of fertigation Parthenocarpic Dicto Jose M (Guide) https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810215715 ddc TH 0 0 0 1 TH KAUCLV KAUCLV THESES 2023-09-16 0 635.6 MIN/ST PG 175784 2023-09-16 00:00:00 TH