Influence of Variety and NPK Fertilization on Insect Pest Infestation on Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.)

Lawal Ayobami, Ayangbemi Tumininu, Filani Oyindamola, Adeoti Adewale, Pitan Richard, Osipitan Adedoyin, Makinde Adekunle, Adeoye Temitope and Omole Oluwadamilola

Background and Objective: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a widely cultivated vegetable, but insect pest infestations often reduce its yield and quality. The susceptibility of cucumber to pests varies with variety and agronomic practices, including NPK fertilization, which influences plant vigor and resistance. This study aims to assess the impact of variety and NPK fertilization on insect pest incidence, identifying the best combination for minimizing pest damage and improving productivity. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a factorial experiment arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with cucumber varieties and NPK fertilization levels as the main factors. The experiment included selected cucumber varieties grown under different NPK fertilizer treatments, with each treatment replicated across multiple plots. Data on insect pest infestation were recorded at regular intervals, assessing pest incidence and severity. Standard entomological techniques were used for pest identification and population estimation. The effects of variety and fertilization on pest infestation were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by mean separation tests to determine significant differences among treatments with a 0.05 significance level. Results: The number of leaves produced was significantly affected by variety and jointly by the two factors in the late season, whereas no effect was recorded in the early season. The NPK fertilizer rate significantly positively correlated with numbers of A. foveicollis, A. africana and A. hilaris and leaf and fruit damage, while fruit yield was significantly negatively correlated with leaf and fruit damage. Although there were significant increases in the number of leaves and fruits produced with an increase in NPK fertilization, leaf and fruit damage in the NPK fertilizer-treated plots did not differ significantly from the control. Conclusion: The NPK fertilization not only improved cucumber growth and yield parameters, it also encouraged Aulacophora genus infestations and leaf and fruit damage. It is therefore recommended that NPK fertilization from 50 kg/ha is sufficient but must be accompanied by adequate insect pest control measures when designing an IPM management.

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