Study on Foliar Fertilization of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Foliar fertilization is often effective and gainful supplement to soil application. The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of different foliar fertilizers with or without boron on cucumber productivity and other traits. N:P:K (20:20:20), Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), Calcium Nitrate (CaNO3), Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) or water (control) was sprayed with or without Boron (boric acid) on cucumber. Response of cucumber to different treatments has revealed the presence of considerable variation in studied traits, except fruit length and width and fruit dry weight. Foliar spray of DAP + boron followed by N:P:K (20:20:20) + boron yield gave highest yield (114.7 and 107.8 q/ha), net income per hectare (Rs.90,556.00 and Rs.82,370.00) and highest input-output ratio (2.92 and 2.75), respectively. Thus, a foliar spray of Diammonium Phosphate (1.5%) or N:P:K (20:20:20) (0.5%) at 35 DAS and two spray of Boric acid (1%) at 35 and 45 DAS may be suggested to the local cucumber grower for higher production and profit.