INVESTIGATION OF DRIP IRRIGATION WITH FERTIGATION FOR ENHANCING CUCUMBER YIELD IN UZO-UWANI ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
Volume 10, Issue12 (11 - 2024)
Abstract
This study compares the effectiveness of three agricultural methods on cucumber growth and
yield: chemical fertilizers, fish water through fertigation, and traditional farming with manure.
Conducted over a specific period, each method was applied to separate plots of cucumber
plants, with measurements taken for plant height, leaf area, fruit size, and overall yield. The
results showed that the fertigation method using fish water produced the highest growth rates
and yields, attributed to the rich nutrients in fish water, which enhance leaf area, foliage
health, and fruit size. Traditional farming with manure also yielded positive results, though
slightly lower than fertigation, indicating the value of organic practices. In contrast, the
chemical fertilizer method resulted in decent growth but lagged in overall plant health and
yield compared to the other two methods. This suggests that while chemical fertilizers can
promote growth, they may lack the holistic benefits provided by organic alternatives. The
study concludes that fish water fertigation is a highly effective and sustainable method for
boosting cucumber growth and yield, while traditional manure-based farming remains a
viable, if slightly less productive, organic option.
Keywords: Cucumber growth, Fertigation, Fish water, Organic farming, Yield comparison