Effect of Different Concentrations of Liquid N, P& K on Growth, Yield and Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Vertical Hydroponics under Shade Net

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to find out the effect of different concentrations of liquid NPK on growth, yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The variety was “Ankita”, which is F1 hybrid. The experiment was carried out during September, 2021 to December, 2021 in Shade net, Research Field, Department of Horticulture, SHUATS, Prayagraj. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD), with eight treatments T1(16.25ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total), T2(18.75ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total), T3(21.25ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total) T4(23.75ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total) T5(26.25ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total) T6(28.75ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total) T7(31.25ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total) with a control (T0), replicated thrice in vertical hydroponics system. The NPK level increased by 5ml on every 15 days interval.  The best result was shown by the treatment T5(26.25ml NPK & micronutrients/Pl in total). The first fruit setting, picking, vine length, number of leaves, growth of plant, chlorophyll content all parameter were superior in T5. The plants in control did not show any significant improvement as there were no nutrients given to them. The systems ran four hours daily during their vegetative growth and the timing was increased to six hours during their reproductive phase of development. Fruit formation occurs in almost all plants in each and every treatment except control there was no fruit formation.