GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER AS INFLUENCED BY POULTRY MANURE IN ASABA AREA OF DELTA STATE , NIGERIA

Field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons in the Teaching and Research Farm of Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria to evaluate the growth and yield responses of cucumber to five different rates of poultry manure. The study was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Rates of poultry manure in tons per hectare were 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20, while the parameters investigated were vine length, number of leaves per plant, fruit diameter (cm), fruit length (cm), and fruit weight of ‘Marketmore’variety of cucumber. The results of the study showed that parameters assessed were significantly influenced by the application of poultry manure. At 4, 6 and 8 weeks after planting, plants that received highest rate of poultry manure (20 tha) showed greatest performances. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that farmers in the study area can apply 20 tha of poultry manure to increase growth and yield of cu-


INTRODUCTION
Cucumber (Cucumis sativa L) is one of the monoecious annual crops.It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family that has been cultivated by man for over 3, 000 years (Adetula and Denton, 2003;Okonmah, 2011).With respect to economic importance, it ranks fourth after tomatoes, cabbage and onion in Asia, and second after tomato in Western Europe (Eifediyi and Remison, 2010).However, due to limited use, its place has not been ranked in tropical Africa.Cucumber is a soft and succulentvegetable crop and is cherished by man, and eaten in salads or sliced into stew in tropical regions.It's juice is often recommended as source of silicon to improve the health and complexion of the skin (Duke, 1997).Cucumber is a very good source of such vitamins as A, C, K, B 6 , In spite of the increasing relevance of cucumber in Nigeria, low yields are obtained in farmers' fields because of declining soil fertility due to continuous cropping and disregard for soil amendment materials.Application of poultry manure is one of the ways of improving soil fertility and final yield of crops.Reported as the richest known animal manure, Lombin et al., (1991); Mangila et al., (2007) and Enujeke et al., 2013 indicated that poultry manure is not only cheap and effective but is also essential for establishing and maintaining the optimum soil physical conditions for plant growth and yield.As a good source of N for sustainable crop production, Ewulo et al., (2008) and Agbede et al., (2008)reproted that the application of 10-50tha -1 of poultry manure improves the soil physical properties by reducing soil temperature and bulk density, and increasing the total porosity.Adekiya and Ojeniyi (2002) and Ewulo et al., (2008) reported that high rates of poultry manure improves moisture availability which results in improved nutrient release to plants for increased growth and yield.According to Agbede et al.,( 2008), poultry manure increased plant N, P, K, Ca and Mg status in about 1,650 mm, the mean annual temperature is 37.3°C and the mean relative humidity is 73.2% (NIMET, 2011).By nature of its geomorphological settings, the study area falls within the classification of Ancient metamorphiccrystalline basement complex formation which are more acid than base (Egbuchua, 2007).They are essentially gneisses and pegmatites that gave rise to coarse-textured soils that are deficient in dark ferromagnessium minerals (Egbuchua, 2007).The topography is undulating with pockets of hills, and land use is typically based on rain -fed agriculture with root, tuber, spices, pulses and vegetables prominently cultivated.The vegetation is of rainforest origin but has been drastically reduced to derived savanna due to continuous use of the land.
A land measuring 323.2 m 2 (32.0m x 10.1m) was selected for the study and prepared by using a tractor to plough and harrow the land.It was marked out according to the experimental layout.Fifteen plots of 6.0m x 2.7m each were made and composite samples collected from the plots at 0,-15 cm depth in order to assess the initial physio-chemical properties of the soil.
After 2 weeks of incorporation of manure, the composite soil samples collected from the individual plots were air-dried in a room temperature of 27°C for three days, crushed and sieved using 2mm aperture.The parameters evaluated include the particle size distribution by hydrometer method (Gee and Bauder, 1986).The pH was determined using Pye Unican model MK2 pH meter in a 1:2:5 soil/water suspension ratio.Organic carbon was determined by Walkley-Black wet oxidation method (Nelson and Sommers, 1982).Total nitrogen was determined by micro-Kjeldahl distillation technique as described by Bremmer and Mulvaney (1982).Available phosphorus was determined by Bray No. 1 method (IITA, 1979).Exchangeable potassium was determined by flame photometer, while cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined by Amnonium acetate saturation method (Roades, 1982).The chemical analysis of the poultry manure used 62 leaf of Sorghum.He also reported that the application of poultry manure increased plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, number of roots, shoot weight and grain weight in the years of evaluation.Enujeke (2013) reported that 20tha -1 of poultry manure significantly increased the vine length, number of leaves/ plant, number of branches/plant, and fruit weight of watermelon above their control counterparts.John et al., (2004)and Dauda et al., (2008) attributed the vigorous growth and increased fruit yield of watermelon to increased supply of nutrient elements associated with high photosynthetic activities which promote growth and yield.Aliyu, (2000) made similar report that higher rates of poultry manure resulted in higher yield of eggplant.The nutrient composition of poultry manure as reported by DIPA ( 2006) is 1.0-1.8%N, 0.4-0.8%P, and 0.5-1.9%K.This high level of nutrients contained in it, therefore, makes it a suitable soil amendment material for increased growth and yield of crops.
In the study area, there are no recommended standards with respect to the most appropriate rate of application of poultry manure for increased growth and yield of cucumber at present.The objective of this study, therefore, was to identify the most appropriate rate of application of poultry manure for enhanced growth and yield of cucumber in Asaba area of Delta State, Nigeria.

Description of experimental site, field and laboratory studies
Field experiments were carried out at the Research and Teaching Farms of Anwai Campus of the Delta State University.The study site is located within latitude 06°14'N and longitude 06°49'E of the equator.The study was conducted during the 2011/2012 cropping seasons in a typical humid environment that is characterized by a bimodal rainfall pattern with peaks in July and September and an interrupted dry spell in August.The mean annual rainfall is ENUJEKE EC: GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER AS INFLUENCED BY POULTRY MANURE for the experiment was also evaluated using appropriate methods as described in the IITA manuals (1979).
The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates.Rates of poultry manure applied in tons per hectare were 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20.The manure was incorporated into the soil 2 weeks before planting.Seeds of proven variety of cucumber (Market more) were obtained from Agro-Allied Company, Ibadan.They were sown on the plots at the rate of 3 seeds/stand at a spacing of 1 m x 1 m and at a depth of 2.5 cm, but the seedlings were later thinned to 1 seedling/stand, giving a plant population of 36 plants/plot.Alley pathways of 1 m were made for easy access to the plots.Regular weeding was done around the base, along and ahead of the vines using hoe.Fourteen middle stands were used as sample population.At forth -night intervals, vine length and number of leaves/plant commencing at 4 weeks after sowing, while fruit diameter (cm), fruit length (cm), and fruit weight were measured at maturity.Vine length was measured using tape from the base to the growing tip of the plant.Number of leaves/plant were determined by direct counting.Fruit diameter and fruit length were measured using tape rule, while fruit weight was measured using a weighing scale after harvest.Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) according to Wahua (1999).

Initial soil properties
The data on the initial physico-chemical properties of the soilof experimental area is presented in Table 1.The particle size fracture showed that the soils were sandy loam in texture and low in fertility as reflected by the low content of organic matter (15.5 gkg -1 ), and total nitrogen (0.87 gkg -1 ).Soil pH was strongly acid with a mean pH value of 5.3.The available phosphorus (P) and water soluble, potassium (K) values were 5.35 mgkg -1 and 0.17 cmolkg -1 and these values were lower than the ratings of FMANR, (1996) for the ecological zone.The low fertility status of the soils is a true reflection of most ultisols of humid environment that are strongly weathered of low activity clay mineralogy and high acidity due to intense precipitation with its associated erosion and leaching in the environment.

Effects of poultry manure on vine length (cm) of cucumber in 2011 and 2012
The response of vine length of cucumber to poultry manure in 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons is shown in Table 2. Vine length gradually increased from 4-8 weeks after planting.At 4 weeks after planting, plants that received 20 tha -1 of poultry manure had the highest vine length with mean value for 2011 and 2012 as 116.2 cm.Plants that did not receive manure had the lowest vine length with mean value of 46.1 cm for 2011 and 2012.During the 6 th week after planting, plants that received 20 tha -1 of poultry manure also had the highest vine length with mean value of 144.5 cm for both years of evaluation, while plants in the control plot had the lowest vine length with mean value of 80.5 cm for 2011 and 2012.The trend did not change during the

Effects of poultry on number of leaves/ plant of cucumber in 2011 and 2012
The response of number of leaves/plant of cucumber to poultry manure in 2011 and 2012 is shown in Higher number of leaves/plant was produced by cucumber stands that received 20 tha -1 of poultry manure possibly because the manure established and maintained soil physical condition for plant growth.This is consistent with the reports of Lombin et al., (1992), Mangila et al., (2007), and Enujeke et al., (2013) which indicated that poultry manure (the richest known animal manure) is essential for establishing and maintaining the optimum soil  physical condition for plant growth.It is also synonymous to the findings of Agbede et al., (2008), andEwulo et al., (2008) who reported that poultry manure is not only cheap and effective source of N for sustainable crop production, but improves soil physical properties by reducing temperature, bulk, density, and increasing total porosity, if higher rates are applied.

Effects of poultry manure on fruit diameter (cm) of cucumber in 2011 and 2012
The response of fruit diameter of cucumber to poultry manure in 2011 and 2012 is shown in Table 4. Plants that received 20 tha -1 of manure had highest fruit diameter of16.6 cm in 2011, while plants in the control plot had the lowest fruit diameter (12.0 cm).In 2012, plants that received 20 tha -1 of manure were also superior in fruit diameter with value of 16.8 cm, while plants in the control plot had the lowest fruit diameter with value of 12.6 cm.The superiority in fruit diameter ofCucumber based on the rate of application of poultry manure in tons/hectare was 20>15>10>5>0.
The fruit diameter of plants that received 20 tha -1 of poultry manure was higher than the fruit diameter of plants that received other rates of manure possibly because the high rate of manure reduced soil erosion, increased wa-ter holding capacity, and increased moisture availability which favoured the release of more nutrients for higher growth and yield.This is in consonance with the findings of John et al., 2004 who attributed the vigorous growth and increased fruit yield of watermelon to higher supply of nutrient elements from the applied manure.

Effects of poultry manure on fruit length (cm) of cucumber in 2011 and 2012
The response of fruit length of cucumber to poultry manure in 2011 and 2012 is shown in Table 5. Plants that received 20 tha -1 of manure had highest fruit length of 22.4 cm in 65  2011, while plants in the control plot had the lowest fruit length (16.0 cm).In 2012, plants that received 20 tha -1 of manure were also superior in fruit length with value of 22.8 cm, while plants in the control plot had the lowest fruit length with value of 16.2 cm.The superiority in fruit length of cucumber based on the rate of application of poultry manure in tons/ hectare was 20>15>10>5>0.
Poultry manure application rate of 20 t/ha -1 resulted in higher fruit length of cucumber possibly because that rate was compatible with the crop's requirement for yield enhancement in Asaba Agro-ecological Zone.This is in harmony with the report of Enujeke (2013) who attributed the higher yield of improved maize obtained from the application of high rate of poultry manure to possible compatibility with the crop's requirement in the agroecological zone.It is also consistent with the report of DIPA ( 2006) who suggested that manure should be applied at rates and times of the year that are compatible with the nutrient requirement and growing characteristics of the crop so as to achieve the desired growth and yield enhancement.

Effects of poultry manure on weight of fruit (tha -1 ) of cucumber in 2011 and 2012
The response of weight of fruit of cucumber to poultry manure in 2011 and 2012 is shown in Table 6.Plants that received 20 tha -1 of manure had highest weight of fruit (48.1 tha -1 ) in 2011, while plants in the control plot had the lowest fruit weight (14.2 tha -1 ).In 2012, plants that received 20 tha -1 of manure were also superior in fruit weight with value of 50.5 tha -1 , while plants in the control plot had the lowest fruit weight with value of 16.4 tha - 1 .The superiority in fruit weight of cucumber based on the rate of application of poultry manure in tons/hectare was 20>15>10>5>0.
Higher fruit weight was obtained from cucumber plants that received 20 tha -1 of poultry manure possibly because higher rates of manure improved the soil conditions for crop establishment as well as released adequate nutrient elements for yield enhancement.This is in harmony with the reports Aliyu (2000), Adekiya and Ojeniyi (2002), Mangila et al., (2008), andAgbede et al., (2008) which indicated that higher rates of manure increases crop yield.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDA-TIONS
This study was carried out to evaluate the growth and yield responses of cucumber to five different rates of poultry manure in  Asaba area of Delta State, Nigeria.The result of the study showed that plants that received 20 tha -1 of poultry manure were superior in the parameters tested.Therefore, based on the findings of the study, it canbe recommended that farmers apply 20tha -1 of poultry manure to increase growth and yield of cucumber in the study area.Further research work is, however, necessary in this area so as to prevent farmers from applying very high rates which may become detrimental to soil or crop.

Table 3
ENUJEKE EC: GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER AS INFLUENCED BY POULTRY MANURE

Table 2 : Effects of poultry manure on vine length (cm) of cucumber in 2011 and 2012
Means with the same letter(s) under the same column are not significantly different (P  0.05) using Duncan Multiple Range test (DMRT)

Table 6 : Effects of poultry manure on weight of fruits of Cucumber in 2011 and 2012
Means with the same letter(s) under the same column are not significantly different (P  0.05) using Duncan Multiple Range test (DMRT)