Use of foliar fertilizer increases cucumber yield

The yield of cucumber (pipino) can be increased considerably through the application of foliar fertilizer.

This was found in a study titled. "Response of Cucumber to Foliar Fertilizer Supplementation" done by John Ayawan at the Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Conducted at Barangay Betag, La Trinidad, the research zeroed in on the effect of foliar fertilizer (sprayed on leaves), most commonly known as Crop Giant, on the growth and yield of cucumber.

It also aimed to determine the optimum frequency of 19-19-19, N-PO-K fertilizer and 15-15-30 that would enhance the growth and fruit yield of cucumber.

After the preparation of the 36 plants, chicken dung was applied and mixed with the soil.

Results showed that plants sprayed with either 19-19-19 or 15-15-30 markedly promoted taller plants, higher fruit setting percentage, higher marketable yield, bigger fruit circumference, and longer fruits.

Spraying foliar fertilizer five times at 14, 28, 42, 56, and 60 days after emergence effected better growth in plant height, higher percentage of fruit setting, greater marketable yield, and bigger fruits in terms of circumference and length.

Based on the findings, either 19-19-19 or 15-15-30 sprayed five times enhanced growth and fruit development of the cucumber.

Ayawan concluded: "Foliar fertilizer application is recommended to supplement soil for cucumber production based on the results of the study. – Rudy A. Fernandez