EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MATERIALS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus cv. Bhaktapur local), IN GOKULESHWOR, BAITADI

The experiment titled “Effect of Different Mulching Materials on Growth and Yield of Cucumber†was conducted during March to June 2021 at Gokuleshwor , Baitadi district of Nepal. Cultivar Bhaktapur local was used as principal cultivar for this research. The experiment was done by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Accordingly, four different mulching material,viz.silver on black polythene mulch, black polythene mulch, rice straw and wheat husk mulch were used as treatment. Each treatment was replicated five times. Un-mulched plot served as control. Results reveals that the application of mulching significiantly influence both growth and yield parameters of cucumber. The broad objectives of this study was to determine the effect of mulching on the growth and yield of cucumber plant. The primary data was obtained through experimental analysis of sample plants of each plot without replacement. Plant height and number of leaves were significantly higher when black polythene mulch was used. Similarly, maximum leaf area was shown in paddy straw mulching at 75 days of transplanting (2318 cm square) . Mulching enhances flower production by 3-4 folds and increases the amount of blooms and fruit per plant. Likewise maximum number of flowers (80.00) and fruit (65.00) were observed in paddy straw mulching. Also highest weight (33.52) and yield (16.76) is seen in paddy straw mulching. And shortest height (977cm) , least number of leaves( 402) and leaf area (1911cm square ) was observed in control at 75 days after transplanting. Due to these mentioned reasons no mulch gave lowest yield per plot. Finding of this experiment thus clearly suggest the benefit of using paddy straw mulch as well as silver and black polythene mulch in cucumber compared to the other common mulching materials.