PERFORMANCES OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS) AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS OF THE PREVAILING WIND SPEEDS

Abstract

Cucumber fruit yield and its characters are dependent on wind speed and wind heights but the effects have not been clearly determined, hence this research was carried out to assess effects of prevailing wind on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit yield and some of its morphological characters using different wind heights. Three cucumber varieties used in the research were: Nagano F1, Poinsett and Marketmore. Three different heights of wind level measured were 0 m, 1 m, and 2 m, each at 90⁰ to the direction of the prevailing wind. At three replicates, the factorial design was 3× 3× 3. Parameters measured were plant height and number of branch plant^-1, number of leaf plant^-1 and leaf area, number of fruit plant^-1, fruit length, fruit girth and vine length. Also, parameters of cucumber measured include number of male flower, number of days to male flowering, number of female flowers and number of days to female flowering, days to first fruiting and fruit yield plant^-1. The result revealed a highly significant variety by treatment interaction for days to male flowering (range 16.80±0.81 to 18.85±1.22). Nagano F1 portrayed the shortest days to male flowering (16.60±1.42 at 2 m wind height), the same Nagano F1, had the highest days to male flowering (18.85±1.22 at 0 m wind height) while Nagano F1 displayed the shortest days to female flowering (3.07±0.41 at 2 m wind height) and 25days to first fruiting. Nagano F1 had highest fruit yield plant^-1, 72.71±0.22 compare to Marketmore highest fruit yield of 75.77±0.19 tha^-1. In all, cumulative yield ranges between 69 tha^-1 and 76 tha^-1.There was linear increase in the growth parameters, in the yield components and in the cumulative yield from 0 m to 1 m and to 2 m wind heights in all the varieties. Wind speed and wind heights affect the performances of the cucumber via growth parameters, yield components and cumulative yields.