Influence of Potassium Fertilization on the Incidence of Sucking Insect Pests on Cucumber

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in Fayoum Governorate, to study the effect of potassium (K) fertilization on the incidence of Aphis gossypii (Glover), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Nezara viridula (L), Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley), Thrips tabaci (Lindeman), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Empoasca decedens (Paoli), and Empoasca decipiens (Paoli) in cucumber during March planting season of 2018 and 2019. Three levels of potassium (25, 50 and 75 kg/ feddan) were used with a fertilizer containing 24% K2O. The control had no potassium (0 kg). The incidence rates of all the pests was observed to be maximum with nil potassium (0 kg) fields (30.8% and 30.6%). The least incidence was observed with 75 kg potassium (19.3% and 19.1%) indicating that increased potassium reduced incidence of some sucking pests.