DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2015.v02i03.006

Pages: 182-186

Cucumber grown in Ebonyi state have low resistance to downy mildew and other fungal diseases, such that only few harvests are made before the foliages are completely destroyed. Farmers use fungicides for the management of cucumber fungal diseases. This study investigated the comparative advantage of using fungicides and N.P.K foliar fertilizer (to induce systemic resistance-SIR) application for the management of cucumber downy mildew and other fungal diseases. The experiment was conducted as 3x3 factorial laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) at Teaching and Research Farm of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki during the 2013 cropping season. Fungicide (Hexaconazole 5% SC) was applied at the rate of 1.140 liters/ha, while the N.P.K foliar fertilizer was applied at the rate of 19.181kg/ha. Each treatment was applied three times at 15 days intervals starting from three weeks after plating till the commencement of fruiting. Diseases and yield data were collected and analysis. Results revealed significant differences (p= 0.05) between the fungicide and the N.P.K foliar fertilizer. Fungicide (Hexaconazole 5% SC) controlled downy mildew and other fungal diseases more than the N.P.K foliar fertilizer. However, that did not translate to yield increase. The N.P.K foliar fertilizer achieved more than average disease control and also gave higher yield and percent yield gain compared to the fungicide. All the cucumber varieties consistently gave higher percent yield gain with application of N.P.K foliar fertilizer. Application of N.P.K foliar fertilizer gave higher gross margin (Net revenue) and marginal revenue (benefit-cost ratio) compared to the fungicide (Hexaconazole 5% SC).