Response of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and Weeds to Plant Spacing and Weeding Regimes in a Humid Forest Agro-Ecology of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The experiment was conducted between April and July 2017 to evaluate the effect of spacing and weeding regimes on cucumber production. The study site was the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria, in a humid forest agro-ecology of southeastern Nigeria. The treatment consists of three spacing (75 cm x 25 cm, 75 x 50 cm and 75 cm x 75 cm) and three weeding regimes (no weeding, weeding twice at 3 and 5 weeks after planting (WAP), and weekly weeding). The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications.  Results showed that plant spaced at 75 x 25 cm produced the highest vine ground coverage, and leaf area index than other spacing regimes. Weed control and cucumber performance were poorer under weedy check than in others weeding regimes. Cucumber spaced at 75 x 25 cm produced the highest fruit yield (2137.70 kg/ha) which was statistically similar to plot with a spacing of 75 x 50 cm (2105 kg/ha).  On the average plots that were hoe weeded weekly produced the highest fruit yield (2020.49 kg/ha) while the weedy check had the lowest (975.78 kg/ha). There was an interactive effect between spacing and weeding regimes. Plant spaced at 75 cm x 25 cm and weeded weekly had the highest fruit yield of 2571.67 kg/ha but was similar to 75 x 25 cm weeded twice at 3 and 5 WAP (2563.33 kg/ha), and 75 x 50 cm weeded twice at 3 and 5WAP (2533.33 kg/ha). The lowest fruit yield was obtained at a more extensive spacing of 75cm x75 cm with no weeding (382.58 kg/ha). With the present study, it is recommendable to cultivate cucumber at a closer spacing of 75 cm x 25 cm with two weeding for economic reasons. However, further studies are needed to ascertain the cost implications of these treatment combinations within and outside the study area.