YIELD AND POST-HARVEST QUALITIES OF CUCUMBER AS INFLUENCED BY COMPANION PLANTING

ABSTRACT

The popularity of cucumber has been on the increase over the years due to its nutritional and economic benefits. A field experiment was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, (Longitude 708070N, latitude 504960E) to evaluate the influence of companion plants on the yield and post-harvest quality of cucumber. The hybrid cucumber seeds were bought from Agro-dealers in Akure. The companion crops which include sunflower, mint and marigold seedlings were obtained from the university’s teaching and research farm. A row plot was used for the study; each plot was 2m long and 1 meter between beds. The plots were separated by 1 meter. A total of 4 plots constituted a replicate. Data collected were analyzed using GLM procedure of SAS version 9.3 (2012). Findings indicted that the companion plants did not have significant impact on the vegetative characteristics of the plants. Significant differences existed for the yield and yield components of cucumber while insignificant differences were observed on the effect of companion plants on the post-harvest quality of cucumber. From the study, marigold as a companion plant had the most positive impact on the yield and yield components of cucumber. This is hence, recommended for further evaluation as thus approach can help mitigate the negative effect of synthetic pesticides on the soil quality as well as human health.

TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION2CERTIFICATION3DEDICATION4ACKNOWLEDGEMENT5ABSTRACT6Table 4: Mean Separation for Leaf Length - - - - - 2613Table 5: Mean separation for leaf breadth - - - - - 2813Table 6:  Mean Separation for leaf area - - - - - - 2913Table 7: Mean Separation for number of leaves - - - - 3113Table 8:  Mean Separation - - - - - - - 3313Table 9: Mean separation for disease incidence - - - - 3413Table 10: Mean separation for number of fruits per plant - - - 3613Table 11: Mean Separation for yield parameters - - - - 3713Table 13: Mean Separation for Firmness - - - - - 4013Table 14: Mean Separation for colour change - - - - - 4113Table 15 Mean Separation for Rottenness - - - - - 4213Table 16 Mean Separation for Taste - - - - - - 43131.0 INTRODUCTION141.1 Description of the Major Crop (Cucumber)141.2 Description of the Associate Crops141.3 Origin, Distribution and Economic Importance of Cucumber151.4 Influence of Associate Crops on yield161.5 Problem Statement171.6 Research Justification171.7 Objectives of the research18CHAPTER TWO192.0 Literature Review192.1  Taxonomy and Adaptation192.2 Uses192.3 Nutritional value202.4 Production202.6 Soil and climatic requirement222.7 Cultivation222.8 Management232.9 Pest and Diseases242.10 Harvest and Yield242.11 Influence of associate crops on yield252.12.2 Ethylene Injury262.13 Sustainable Agronomic practices and benefits of cucumber with sunflower, mint and marigold272.14 Storage28CHAPTER THREE303.0 Material and methods303.1 Materials303.2 Experimental site303.3 Experimental design313.4 Field layout323.5 Planting323.5 Crop management323.6 Data collection333.7 Data analysis35CHAPTER FOUR364.0 RESULTS364.1 Mean separation for growth parameters364.1.1 Mean separation for vine length364.1.2 Mean separation for leaf length38Table 4: Mean Separation for Leaf Length394.1.3 Mean separation for leaf breadth39Table 5: Mean separation for leaf breadth41Table 6: Mean Separation for leaf area424.1.5 Mean separation for number of leaves42Table 7: Mean Separation for number of leaves444.2 Mean separation for pest and disease indices444.2.1 Mean separation for leaf infestation444.2.2 Mean Separation for diseases incidence45Table 8: Mean Separation45Table 9: Mean separation for disease incidence464.3 Mean separation for yield and yield components474.3.1 Mean separation for number of fruits per plant474.3.2 Mean separation for yield parameters47Table 10: Mean separation for number of fruits per plant48Table 11: Mean Separation for yield parameters494.4 Mean separation for post-harvest parameters494.4.1 Mean separation for moisture loss.494.4.2 Mean separation for firmness504.4.3 Mean separation for colour change504.4.4 Mean separation for rottenness50Table 13: Mean Separation for Firmness51Table 14: Mean Separation for colour change52Table 15 Mean Separation for Rottenness53Table 16 Mean Separation for Taste545.0 DISCUSSION566.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION586.1 Conclusion586.2 Recommendation58