Asian Basic and Applied Research Journal

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop whose performance depends strongly on soil fertility and the availability of nutrients. In Owerri, repeated cultivation has contributed to declining soil fertility, which may restrict cucumber growth and yield. The appropriate use of poultry manure and inorganic fertiliser may therefore improve nutrient supply and crop productivity under local conditions. A field experiment was undertaken at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, from September 2024 to January 2025 to assess cucumber responses to different rates of poultry manure and inorganic fertiliser. Seven treatments were evaluated: 5 tons/ha PM, 10 tons/ha PM, 15 tons/ha PM, 100 kg/ha NPK, 150 kg/ha NPK, 200 kg/ha NPK, and 0 kg/ha (control). Treatments were arranged in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). Growth and yield data were analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were separated using the Least Significant Difference at the 5% probability level. At 2, 4, and 6 WAP, the largest leaf areas were recorded with 15 tons/ha poultry manure, with values of 59.26 cm², 73.65 cm², and 186.2 cm², respectively. The smallest leaf areas at 2 and 4 WAP occurred with 5 tons/ha poultry manure (40.46 cm² and 53.16 cm²), whereas the control recorded the lowest value at 6 WAP (106 cm²). At 2 WAP, the greatest number of leaves (4.00) occurred under both 15 tons/ha poultry manure and 0.2 tons/ha NPK, while the control and 5 tons/ha poultry manure each recorded 2.33 leaves. By 4 and 6 WAP, 0.2 tons/ha NPK gave the highest leaf numbers (13.33 and 23.00), compared with 8.00 and 16.00 leaves, respectively, in the control. Plant height was also greatest under 0.2 tons/ha NPK, reaching 6.0 cm, 54.3 cm, and 79.3 cm at 2, 4, and 6 WAP. The control had the shortest plants at 2 and 6 WAP (4.0 cm and 47.2 cm), while 5 tons/ha poultry manure gave the lowest height at 4 WAP (34.3 cm). Days to 50% emergence did not differ significantly among treatments; values ranged from 6.67 days in the control to 5.33 days with 15 tons/ha poultry manure. The greatest average fruit weight (0.0021 t ha⁻¹) was obtained with 0.2 tons/ha NPK, compared with 0.0009 t ha⁻¹ in the control. Treatments of 0.2 and 0.15 tons/ha NPK each produced 6.00 fruits, whereas the control produced 4.00 fruits.