Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) for Enhancing Nutrient Uptake and Post-Harvest Soil Properties

Abstract

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) aims to integrated applications of both natural and artificial sources of plant nutrients to boost crop productivity in an environmentally friendly manner, without compromising soil health for future generations. The synergistic benefits of integrating inorganic chemical fertilizers, organic materials, and biological sources of nutrients have been shown to be more effective than their sole applications. The present study assesses the impact of various nutrient sources on the nutrient uptake, recovery and post-harvest soil properties in test crop, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). A field experiment was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, located at OUAT in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India to study the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on nutrient uptake, recovery and Post-Harvest Soil properties in cucumbers. The study spanned two years and took place in situ conditions in sandy loam acidic soil, which was of medium status in terms of organic carbon content and available major nutrients (N, P, and K). The study utilized four agro-inputs: fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost and biofertilizers, which were combined in 12 different combinations with three replications and designed with RBD to determine the most effective practice for achieving optimum nutrient uptake while maintaining the soil health. Crops treated with the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) practice had a shorter time to harvest, with the first and last harvest days being 45 and 80 days, respectively, compared to 51 and 72 days with only recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), 50 and 75 days with full FYM, and 51 and 73 days with full vermicompost. The INM practice resulted in the maximum N uptake (30.2 kg ha-1) with a recovery efficiency of 25%. P uptake was 19.1 kg ha-1 with a recovery efficiency of 33%, while K uptake (28.1 kg ha-1) had a recovery efficiency of 29%. Post-harvest soil analysis showed an increase in organic carbon but a decrease in available N, P, and K content, regardless of the agricultural practices used. The effectiveness of these nutrient sources depends on factors like the right source, amount, timing, and method of application. Soil factors like texture and organic carbon content also play a key role in nutrient efficiency. Adding organic inputs like vermicompost and biofertilizers not only improve growth and productivity of crops like cucumbers but also enhance the nutrient uptake and maintain the post-harvest soil health.