Effect of Vermicompost with Different Leguminous Crops as Nitrogen Source on the Pest Occurrence and Performance of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the potential of vermicompost of different leguminous crops as nitrogen source on the pest occurrence and performance of cucumber. The parameters data were gathered in a two-cropping seasons which was conducted at the Organic Agriculture Project of Capiz State University, Burias Campus, Mambusao, Capiz. The study was laid out in 2×4 factorial experiment using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A was the cropping seasons such as A1- first cropping (January- March) and A2- second cropping (May-July). Factor B was the vermicompost using different leguminous crops as N source which comprised of B1 – Azolla, B2 – Trichantera, B3 – Kakawate, and B4 – Mixed (Azolla, Trichantera, and Kakawate). The data gathered were analyzed using STAR software and LSD test for mean comparisons. The growth and yield parameters of cucumber were comparable on the use of the different leguminous crops as nitrogen source. The above study reveals that cropping seasons significantly affected the plant height, stem girth, number of lateral branches, weight of roots, biomass, length and diameter of fruit, and number of marketable fruit. Cucumber grown and harvested in the first cropping which falls on January to March had the bigger stems, heavier roots and biomass, longer fruit, and most number of marketable fruit. While most number of lateral branches and bigger fruit were recorded in the cucumber grown and harvested in the months of May to July (second cropping). The different pest infested the cucumber was not affected by the vermicompost with different leguminous crops as N source. The data collected reveals the variation of growth and yield of cucumber. Cucumber applied with vermicompost with trichanthera gave the highest net profit amounting of Php 558.50.