Effect of Drip Irrigation Frequency, N-Fertilization, and Mulching on Yield, Nitrogen, and Water Use Efficiencies of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Ikole-Ekiti, Nigeria

Soil moisture conservation, proper irrigation scheduling and nutrient management are crucial for sustainable cucumber production. A field experiment was set up over two years (2018 2019) to investigate the effects of frequency, black polyethylene mulching, nitrogen fertilization on yield, water use efficiency (WUE) (NUE) at Ikole-Ekiti, Nigeria. The a 3 x 2 factorial in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plot arrangement main plot as drip frequency: twice per week (I4), three times (I5), four (I6), while sub-plots were fertilization; (no fertilizer, N0 180 kg/ha urea, N180) mulching mulch, NM M). highest yield (8.39 8.51 t/ha) best WUE obtained from treatment I4MF (F, fertilization), lowest (5.81 5.79 I6MF respective years. combination variables significantly (P<0.05) influenced WUE, NUE, significant correlations (r=0.87** 0.85**) between fruit study therefore, could successfully be adopted reduce fertilizer application improved field.