Vol. 11, Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
S Padmaja, Md. Latheef Pasha, SMS Ramya, M Umadevi, SA Hussain and A Nirmala

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted on cucumber under naturally ventilated polyhouse with various drip irrigation and NK fertigation regimes at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana during rabi 2020-2021. The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising of 12 treatments with three replications. The treatments consist of three irrigation regimes viz., 0.8 Epan (I₁), 1.0 Epan (I₂) and 1.2 Epan (I₃) as main plots and four N and K fertigation levels viz., F₁-75% RDNK (112.5:100:75 kg N P₂O₅ K₂O ha^-1), F₂- 100% RDNK (150:100:100 kg N P₂O₅ K₂O ha^-1), F₃-125% RDNK (187.5:100:125 kg N P₂O₅ K₂O ha^-1) and F₄-150% RDNK (225:100:150 kg N P₂O₅ K₂O ha^-1) as sub plots. The independent variables significantly explained the variation in fruit yield in all components like dry matter production, yield attributes and NPK uptake as evident from the high coefficient of determination (R2) values which varied from 0.72 to 0.92. Dry matter production, yield attributes and NPK uptake had positive regression coefficients and statistically significant at P=0.01. Drip irrigation scheduled at 1.2 Epan recorded significantly higher net returns and B:C ratio (Rs 10,03,218 ha-1 and 3.0) than 1.0 Epan and 0.8 Epan. Drip fertigation of 150% recommended dose of NK got significantly higher net returns and B:C ratio (₹ 8,73,314 ha-1 and 2.7) than 125%, 100% and 75% recommended dose of NK.