Abstract:

A study on the comparative effects of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and development of Cucumis sativa was carried out at Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka. Randomized Complete Block Design was used for the study. 30kg of sandy loam soil was used and different concentrations of organic manure were 0.5kg, 1.0kg, 1.5kg and 2.0kg, while 0.3kg of inorganic manure was used to treat the soil. Growth parameters such as changes in length, girth, leaf area and the number of leaves were measured on weekly basis and recorded accordingly. The results on the effect of organic manure and inorganic manure on the leaf area of cucumber revealed that the 2kg of organic manure gave the highest leaf area increase of cucumber from 9.33±0.306cm2 in week 1 to 298.79±5.526cm2 in week 6. The performance of 2kg of organic manure is followed by 1.5kg of organic manure which gave leaf area increase of cucumber from 8.97±0.351cm2 in week 1 to 246.69±5.754 cm2 in week 6. The control increased the least leaf area from 3.20±0.200cm2in week 1 to 96.08±5.562 cm2in week 6. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the leaf area of cucumber between treatments studied from week 1 to week 6. Also, results on the effect of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer on the height of cucumber revealed that the 2kg of organic manure gave the highest height increase of cucumber from 6.20±0.100 cm in week 1 to 99.60±0.200 cm in week 6. The performance of 2kg of organic manure is followed by inorganic manure which gave a height increase of cucumber from 5.33±0.058 cm in week 1 to 88.73±4.143 cm in week 6. The control gave the least height increase from 3.33±0.153 cm in week 1 to 29.20±1.153 cm in week 6. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the height of cucumber between treatments studied (that is the different rates of organic manure, inorganic manure and control) from week 1 to week 6. study shows that the treatment of inorganic fertilizer on the cucumber plant had a significant impact on cucumber while organic manure alone gave the highest stem height and stem girth of cucumber.