Mulching materials affect growth and yield characters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Malini) under drip irrigation condition in Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

An experiment was done to evaluate the effect of mulching materials on growth and yield characters of cucumber (var: Malini) under drip irrigation condition during February to May 2018 in Chitwan district, Nepal. The experiment was done by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Accordingly, four different mulching materials, viz. silver on black polyethylene mulch, black polyethylene mulch, rice straw mulch, and rice husk mulch were used as treatments. Each treatment was replicated four times. Un-mulched plot served as control. Mulching improved growth and yield characters of cucumber. Plant height and number of leaves were significantly higher (p<0.05) if silver on black polyethylene mulch was used. Similarly, highest number of male (69.50) and female (33.50) flowers per plant were recorded in silver on black polyethylene mulch used. Male flowers were minimum (29.80) in rice husk mulch used treatment whereas female flowers were minimum (10.30) in the control treatment. Sex ratio was the highest (3.43) in control and it was lowest (1.81) for rice husk mulch used treatment. Number of fruit per plant was significantly higher (p<0.05) (15.85) in silver on black polyethylene mulch treatment. Likewise, longest fruit length (18.42 cm) was measured in silver on black polyethylene mulch treatment whereas shortest (15.24 cm) length was measured in control. Yield of silver on black polyethylene mulch and black polyethylene mulch was almost three-folds and two-folds to that of the control, respectively. B: C ratio shows the use of silver on black polyethylene mulch and black polyethylene mulch economically more beneficial in cucumber production with highest benefit. Findings of this experiment thus clearly suggest the benefit of using silver on black polyethylene mulch, as well as black polyethylene mulch in cucumber cultivation compared to the other common mulching materials.

Economics of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production and marketing in Darchula district of Nepal

“…Farmers who marketed their product directly to customers received a bigger share of the consumer's price while those who marketed their produce through agent (Karki et al, 2020).…”

Length of Vegetation Period and Fruit Set in Pepper Grown on Different Types of Mulch

“…Tomar et al, 2018 found that tomato grown with bio-mulch produces the maximum number of flowers/inflorescence and number of inflorescence per plant. While in cucumber the highest number of male (69.50) and female (33.50) flowers per plant were recorded in silver on black polyethylene mulch used (Karki et al, 2020). 3).…”

“…The mulch materials influence the number of flowers also reduce the number of days to flower as well as have a positive effect on the fruit set (Kumar & Verma, 2009;Iqbal et al, 2009;Ahmad et al, 2011;Marichamy et al, 2016;Verma et al, 2016;Tomar et al, 2018;Molla et al, 2019;Debbarma et al, 2019). Many studies also reported an increment in the early and total yield of vegetables grown on different mulching materials (Ibarra-Jimenez et al, 2004;Kumar and Verma, 2009;Molla et al, 2019;Debbarma et al, 2019;Karki et al, 2020;Bogevska et al, 2021;Adamović et al, 2021). Yield can be improved by using mulches in vegetables from 17.39% in chili peppers to 60.74% in broccoli (Ray & Biswasi, 2016).…”

Effect of mulch on yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in Nepal

“…According to (Dutta, 2006) significantly higher plant height was observed under polythene mulched groundnut. Similarly, silver on black polythene mulch treatment and black polythene mulch treatment in cucumber recorded higher plant heights over rice straw and rice husk mulch treatments (Karki et al, 2020). L. camara is very good source of protein with the value of 24.84±0.51(%)…”