Direct Impacts of Water Management on Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)  Yield Components and Performance

Abstract

This study, conducted at the Students’ Demonstration Farm from September to November 2023, evaluated the impact of irrigation strategies on cucumber yield and performance. The results demonstrated that irrigating at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc, treatment W1) with a daily interval produced the peak yield of 121 ton/ha, alongside the highest fruit weight (0.565 g), length (35.5 cm), diameter (5.95 cm) and number of fruits per plant (13). In stark contrast, a severe deficit of 25% ETc (W4) caused drastic declines, which reduced yield by 91% (10.83 ton/ha), fruit weight by 68%, fruit length by 18%, fruit diameter by 14% and fruit number by 69%. Irrigation frequency significantly modulated water stress. A 10-day interval (D10) under 100% ETc reduced yield by 40% compared to daily irrigation, highlighting the cost of infrequent watering even when seasonal water volume is adequate. A significant interaction between irrigation amount and interval revealed critical trade-offs: high-volume, infrequent irrigation (W1D10) consumed 207.5 mm of water for a 40% (72.33 ton/ha) lower yield than W1DI (121 ton/ha), making it highly inefficient. Conversely, a moderate deficit with daily irrigation (75% ETc, W2D1) conserved 25% of water (155.6 mm) while maintaining a respectable yield of 73.5 ton/ha (61% of maximum). Low irrigation amounts (≤50% ETc) induced chronic stress that negated any benefits of irrigation frequency. The study provides valuable insights for farmers on optimizing irrigation practices to enhance cucumber yield and address climate change challenges.