Influence of Chicken Manure and Urea on the Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Different Soils under Greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a nutritionally and economically important vegetable whose yield depends on soil fertility and proper nutrient management. Organic manures like chicken manure improve soil health and support sustainable, high-quality production. The study was conducted in the greenhouse facilities of the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at the University of Kordofan, El Obeid, Sudan. The  aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of chicken manure and urea on the growth and yield of  cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in Different Soils under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted three levels of soil types Sand (S), Sandy Clay (Gardud) (G), and Clay (C), two levels of chicken manure (5 ton/ha) (CM1) and (10 ton/ha) (CM2), and urea (207 kg/ha) (1N) as well as control (no fertilizer) (0). Factorial experiment with twelve treatments arranged as: (S0, SCM1, SCM2, S1N, G0, GCM1, GCM2, G1N, C0, CCM1, CCM2, C1N). The treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The parameters measured were: Soil moisture content (MC%), soil bulk density (g/cm3(, Porosity of soil (%), Plant height, (cm), leaf area (dcm2), stem diameter (cm), number of leaves/plant, number of fruits plant, fruit yield (kg/ plant), fruits yield (ton/ha). The findings revealed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatments in most characters under study.  Chicken manure recorded highest growth, yield, and improved soil properties compared to other treatments. The treatment clay soil with 10 ton/ha chicken manure (CCM2) had highest values of plant height (336.5 cm), leaf area (49.5 dcm2), stem diameter (1.23 cm), number of leaves / plant (49), yield (239.58 ton/ha), while the lowest values (117.8 cm), (20.75dcm2), (0.65 cm), (21.5), and (83.30 ton/ha) respectively, were obtained in sand soil with no fertilizer (S0). Then, based on these results we recommended that to obtain high growth, yield from cucumber the clay soil with chicken manure of (10 ton/ha) should be applied.