Influence ofArbuscular Mycorrhizal and NPK Fertilizer on the Productivity of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Abstract

Greenhouse studies were conducted in 2008 and 2009, at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of Cucumber plants. There were eleven treatments in three replicates laid out in a completely randomized design. TheAM fungi and NPK fertilizer were applied into 8kg soil each at the rates of 0kg/ha, 250kg/ha, 500kg/ha, 750kg/ha, 1000kg/ha and 1250kg/ha.The results showed that plants treated with 500kg/ha fungi produced higher fruit weight per plant. This yield was significantly higher than other treatments. It thus appeared that 500kg/ha is the optimum level ofAM fungi that is required for cucumber cultivation. The values of phosphorus in soil post harvest were lower in all the AM treated pots than the plants treated with NPK fertilizer. The fruit yield of Cucumber with 500kg/haAM fungi reduced P toxicity in the soil.