Optimizing Cucumber Growth and Yield with Organic Amendments: Impact of Compost, Vermicompost, and Vermiwash on Plant Performance and Nutrient Enrichment

Abstract

Frequent use synthetic chemical fertilizers in vegetable crop production provide short term yield gain but leads to long-term soil degradation and environmental problems. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt cost-effective and eco-friendly strategies for sustainable vegetable crop production. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizers (compost, vermicompost and vermiwash) for improving sustainable cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production. In this study, we found   compost, vermicompost, and vermiwash application had differential effects on leaf number, fruit length, accumulation of nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K), improving plant biomass and total cucumber yield. Compost increased leaf number per plant, followed by vermicompost.  Application of vermicompost 4 showed the highest cucumber size (18.41 ± 0.63 cm). Vermicompost2 showed the highest level of nitrogen (2.82 ± 0.05%) accumulation in cucumber. Among the three organic fertilizers, the vermicompost amendment showed better performance for improving total plant biomass and cucumber yield, produced vermicompost application could be a better option for improving cucumber yield. These findings together suggest that the cost-effective and eco-friendly organic amendment-based strategy would be effective to horticulturists and farmers for sustainable cucumber and other horticultural plant production.