Effects of Poultry Manure Rates on Selected Soil Properties, Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Ifite Ogwari, Southeasthern Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of different rates of poultry manure on soil physicochemical properties,  growth parameters and crop yield of cucumber in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ifite-Ogwari campus, Anambra State, Nigeria. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments (0 t/ha, 5 t/ha, 10 t/ha, 15 t/ha, and 20 t/ha of poultry manure)  with four replications . The experiment was conducted at the experimental research farm of Crop Science and Horticulture. Soil samples were collected before and after the experiment at 6 weeks after planting and analyzed for pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic carbon, exchangeable cations, and other parameters. The results indicated that the application of poultry manure significantly influenced soil physical properties, with the highest total porosity and moisture content observed at the highest application rate (20 t/ha). Moreover, soil chemical properties such as pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic carbon, and exchangeable cations varied significantly among treatments, with the highest values recorded at the highest poultry manure rate. Cucumber growth parameters, including the number of leaves, vine length, and fruit weight, exhibited significant improvements with increasing poultry manure application rates. Likewise, crop yield-related characteristics such as fruit length, circumference, and number of fruits increased significantly with higher poultry manure application rates. Based on the findings, the treatment with 20 tons/ha of poultry manure emerged as the most effective in improving soil physicochemical properties, cucumber growth, and crop yield hence could be recommended for enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability in similar agroecological zones.