Effect of Nitrobenzene on Sweet Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Yield and Yield Quality under Green House Condition

Sweet cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops grown extensively throughout the world especially in the temperate countries. Poor fruit-set was believed to be one of the major barriers to the tropical adaptation of sweet cucumber. Nitrobenzene is a combination of nitrogen and plant growth regulators, extracted from sea weeds that act as plant energizer, flowering stimulant and yield booster in crop production. The objectives of the present study were to examine the effect of nitrobenzene on sweet cucumber yield to evaluate the optimum dose of nitrobenzene for economically better yield. The study was conducted at a farmer poly tunnel located in Athgala (WU1). The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomize Design (CRD) with four treatments randomized in three replicates. The treatments were T1 – Control (without Nitrobenzene), T2 – Nitrobenzene 10%, T3 – Nitrobenzene 15%, T4 – Nitrobenzene 20%. Plants were established in drip-fertigated bags in the Poly tunnel and standard crop management practices were done throughout the study. Nitrobenzene was sprayed to the seedlings 20 and 35 days after sowing. Albert solution, 6: 30: 30 fertilizer mixture 20: 20 fertilizer mixture and Ca(NO3)2 were used as recommended fertilizers. Measurements were taken on growth, flowering, Fruit setting and postharvest stages. The data obtained were subjected to the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 9.1. Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) was performed to compare the differences among treatment means at p=0.05. The highest values of plant growth parameters, reproductive parameters, yield parameters and postharvest parameters were observed in T4, i.e. 20% Nitrobenzene applied treatments. On the other hand the lowest values were recorded from T1 (control of the experiment). Specially, advanced flowering and fruit setting, number of flowers per plant and total yield per plant were recorded from T4, i.e. 20% Nitrobenzene applied treatments. So, 20% nitrobenzene applied plants showed superior results in contrast to other nitrobenzene levels with enhancing flowering, fruit setting, yield qualities as well as postharvest performances.