Science Letters

Effect of row spacing on growth, yield and yield components of cucumber varieties

Abuzar Jaffar* 1, 2, Fazal-i-Wahid 1

1 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar

2 Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Lasbella University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal, Balochistan

Abstract

Experiment was conducted at Horticulture research farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during June 2008, in a randomized complete block design with three replicates to study the effect of row spacing of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 meter on three cultivars of cucumber; Desi 36 Days, Cucumber Long Great and Cucumber Desi cultivar. Finding showed that all the parameter except fruit length was significantly affected by different cultivars. The effect of row space remained non-significant for all parameters except fruit length and final fruit yield. The interaction between cultivars and row space was not significant for all parameters. Cultivar Desi 36 Days resulted in maximum plant survival (%), lesser days to initial flowering, longer stem diameter (cm), few days to fruit setting, thicker fruit diameter (cm), elongated leaf length, more fruit/plant and highest fruit yield t/ha. Cucumber cultivar Long Great gave maximum emergence (%), minimum plat survival (%) and shorter fruit diameter (cm). More days to initial flowering, least emergence (%), shorter stem diameter (cm), more days to fruit setting, shorter leaf length , least fruit/plant, and lower fruit yield kg/ha was recorded by Cucumber Desi. Maximum fruit length and higher fruit yield t/ha was noted at 1.5 m row spacing, whereas minimum fruit length was recorded 1 m row spacing. Row spacing of 2 m resulted in lower fruit yield of cucumber.

Keywords: Cucumber varieties; growth; row spacing; yield components.

Received November 02, 2013; Revised March11, 2014; Accepted March 20, 2014

*Corresponding author: Abuzar Jaffar; Email: abuzar_jaffar@yahoo.com