MSc.

The present study entitled “Productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) as influenced by seasons and growing systems” was undertaken in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2009. The objectives of the study were to investigate the feasibility of off season production of cucumber in rain shelter, to identify ideal variety for protected cultivation and to study the comparative performance of crops in rain shelter and open field.
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications inside the rain shelter and open field. Three varieties Poinsette, AAUC-2 and Kuruppamthara Local were used for the study during summer season (February to April) and rainy season (June to August). Protected condition was provided using a rain shelter of 100m2 floor area. Observations on vegetative and reproductive characters were recorded during the course of investigation. The daily weather parameters were recorded inside and outside the rain shelter.
During summer season, rain shelter crop had maximum vine length than open field crop. AAUC-2 recorded maximum vine length inside the rain shelter and open field. AAUC-2 recorded maximum number of branches also inside the rain shelter than open field. During rainy season Kuruppamthara Local had more vine length and number of branches inside the rain shelter and open field.
Variety Poinsette produced male flower earlier than other varieties during summer season inside the rain shelter but in the open field Kuruppamthara Local was earlier than other varieties. During rainy season, Poinsette was earlier than other varieties under both growing condition. During both season, this variety produced female flower earlier than other varieties under two growing conditions. During summer season, AAUC-2 produced female flower at lowest node in the open field.
Poinsette was early to harvest inside the rain shelter during summer and Kuruppamthara Local was early in the open field. But during rainy season, AAUC-2 was early inside the rain shelter and Poinsette in the open field. AAUC-2 recorded highest crop duration under two growing condition during summer season and Kuruppamthara Local had maximum duration during rainy season. AAUC-2 recorded maximum number of harvests under two growing conditions during summer season and inside the rain shelter during rainy season. Kuruppamthara Local recorded maximum number of harvests in the open field during rainy season. Same pattern was observed in the case of fruits per plot and yield per plot. During summer season maximum fruit weight was recorded by variety Kuruppamthara Local under two growing condition and rainy also this variety recorded maximum fruit weight in the open field. But inside the rain shelter AAUC-2 recorded maximum fruit weight. AAUC-2 recorded maximum fruit length under two growing conditions during two seasons. Kuruppamthara Local recorded maximum fruit girth and flesh thickness under two growing conditions during two seasons. AAUC-2 produced maximum number of seeds in the open field during rainy season than summer season.
During rainy season, inside the rain shelter horizontally trailed varieties had highest yield than vertically trailed varieties and there was no significant difference in the open field. During summer season trailing methods had no significant influence on yield per plant.
Pest attack was minimum during both seasons under two growing conditions and the main diseases were damping off and mosaic. Severity of mosaic diseases was high during rainy season. Cracking was observed during summer season and variety Poinsette inside the rain shelter recorded highest percentage of cracking.
During summer season, cost benefit ratio inside the rain shelter was 1:5.15 and in the open field cost benefit ratio was calculated as 1:4.8. During rainy season, cost benefit ratio of rain shelter crop was 1:1.4. In the open field, the cost benefit ratio during rainy season was 1:6.0.
From this study it can be concluded that AAUC-2 is the ideal variety for off season (summer) cultivation inside rain shelter. Kuruppamthara Local is ideal for open field cultivation during rainy season under vertical trailing system.