Effects of Pig and Goat Droppings on Soil Physiochemical Properties and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

This study was carried out at the teaching and research farm of the Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, Lagos State Polytechnic Ikorodu to determine the effects of different levels of goat and pig droppings on the performance of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with five experimental treatments replicated three times. The treatments applied were goat droppings at 5 and 10 tonnes per hectare, pig droppings at 5 and 10 tonnes per hectare and control 0 tonne per hectare. Data collected were vine length (cm), vine girth (cm) number of leaves, number of branches, and days to 50% flowering, weight of fruit (kg), number of fruits, length of fruit (cm) and width of fruits (cm). The results from the data analysis indicated that number of branches of cucumber, its length and diameter were significantly affected by the different rates of application of goat and pig droppings. Based on the outcome of this study, 5 tonnes per hectare of goat manure should actually be adopted for farmers in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. However, further research should be carried out to determine the rate of manure suitable for the optimum yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Farmers are advised to use more tonnes of manure at a higher rate to improve soil physiochemical properties and to enhance crop growth and yield.

Keywords

• pig droppings
• goat dropping
• soil physiological properties
• yield
• cucumber