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Bangladesh Journal of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research; Vol. 2, No. 2; 2020 
ISSN 2687-850X   E-ISSN 2687-8518  

Published by CRIBFB, USA  
 

    31 
 

Performance of Mulching to the Stimulation on the Growth of Cucumber 
(Cucumis Sativus) Production 

 
 

Daliya Akter 
Department of Agriculture 

Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali- 3814, Bangladesh 
E-mail: daliyaakter26@gmail.com 

 
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam 

Assistant Professor 
Department of Agriculture 

Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh 
E-mail: safi.agri21@gmail.com 

 
Roksana Aftab Ruhi 

MS Student  
Department of Plant Pathology 

Faculty of Agriculture 
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh 

E-mail.: ruhi435@outlook.com 
 

Md Istiak Hossain Joy 
Department of Agriculture 

Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh 
E-mail: istiakjoy40@gmail.com 

 
Fariha Ahmed Trina 

Department of Agriculture 
Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh 

E-mail: farihaahmedtrina@gmail.com 
 
 
Received: August 21, 2020    Accepted: September 13, 2020 Online Published: September 21, 2020 
 
doi: 10.46281/bjmsr.v2i2.777  URL: https://doi.org/10.46281/bjmsr.v2i2.777  
 
 
Abstract 
A field experiment was conducted at Noakhali ,Chittagong during the season in 2019, to determine the effect of mulching on 
cucumber (Cucumis sativus) production where Alavy Green variety was used. The study was laid out in RCBD (Randomized 
complete block design) method having three replications. The treatment used in this study consists of T1=Black plastic 
mulching, T2=Water hyacinth mulching, T3=Rice straw mulching, Control= no mulching. The plant showed significant 
differences after application of various treatments. The maximum average length of vine (113 cm), number of branch per plant 
(8.33), number of leaves per plant (28.44), number of tendrils per plant (11.52), number of flowers per plant (16.33), number 
of fruits per plant (9), length of fruit (18 cm), weight of individual fruit (239.67 g) were obtained from T1 treatment (Black 
plastic mulching) .On the other hand, minimum average length of vine (103.91 cm), number of branch per plant (4.33), number 
of leaves per plant (22.67), number of tendrils per plant (7.33), number of flowers per plant (12.33),number of fruits per plant 
(4.33), length of fruit (9 cm), weight of individual fruit (173.67 g) were obtained from T0 control (No mulching).  Among 
organic (Water hyacinth and Rice straw) and inorganic mulches (Black plastic), inorganic mulches gave better performance over 
organic mulches.  
 
Keywords:  Cucumber, Mulching, Growth, Development, Yield.        
 

mailto:ruhi435@outlook.com
https://doi.org/10.46281/bjmsr.v2i2.777
https://doi.org/10.46281/bjmsr.v2i2.777


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1. Introduction 

In Bangladesh, to meet the vegetable deficiency during the scarce period Cucumber plays a great role which ultimately diminishes 

the malnutrition problem. Total cultivable land of cucumber is about 22286 acres and total production is approximately 54854 

metric tons (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2014) gained in Bangladesh.  It was found effective against human constipation and 

improvement in digestion. It is eaten as a cooling food in summer and a fresh Cucumber provides vitamin C, niacin, iron, 

calcium, thiamine, fibre sand phosphorus (Maurya, Pal, Singh, & Meena, 2015). In general, Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is 

one of the most popular vegetable of the Cucurbitaceae family (Lower & Edwards, 1986; Thoa, 1998). After tomato, cabbage 

and onion in Asia (Tatlioglu, 1997) this crop is the fourth vegetable crop. It is a annual crop which leaves are alternate, simple 

and triangular-ovate with 3-7 lobed leaf blades ,deeply chordate at the base. Besides the vines that are sparingly branched are 

produced from stem that are certainly creeping type which roots in the ground grows up trellises or other supporting frames, 

wrapping around supports with thin, spiralling tendrils (Mariod, Mirghani, & Hussein, 2017). The Cucumber plant can also 

root in a soilless medium and sprawl along the ground if it does not have supports around it. The farmers of Cumilla, Bogra, 

Rangpur, Noakhali, Faridpur, Chittagong and Mymensingh districts in Bangladesh are grow cucumber commercially. It is 

enlisted as a profitable business due to it’s relatively higher net return per hectare cost. Since the soil and climatic condition of 

Bangladesh are compatible to cultivate cucumber exponentially, it is expected the selection of high yielding varieties will augment 

the yield considerably. Indeed there is a vast scope to increment production with the introduction of high yielding varieties. 

Mulching is a technique that has been applied by vegetable growers for many years and prescribed to use either organic or 

inorganic materials. To help farmers to obtain their production goals such as earliness, soil moisture retention, improved quality, 

weed control and increased yields several kinds of soil and plant mulching materials are available (Mutetwa & Mtaita, 2014) 

.Besides, mulches, as a natural or synthetic substances cover the soil surface to protect and flourish it’s quality in landscapes 

(Cregg & Schutzki, 2009). However, the bare soil revealed to heat and the wind loses water through evaporation while using 

mulches increases the soils water retention capacity, reduces evaporation and number of weeds as well (Plekhanova & Petrova, 

2000) even it moderates soil moisture and temperature (Skroch, Powell, Bilderback, & Henry, 1992) also. Usage of different 

kinds of mulches such as black polythene, rice straw, water hyacinth, saw dust, leaves, hay, shredded bark, shells, woodchips , 

newspaper, cardboard etc. has been reported to have developed fruit quality (Brown & Channell-Butcher, 2001), increased 

growth and subsequent yield. Among all of the mulching materials black polythene and rice straw water hyacinth are profitable 

and available in our country, Bangladesh. Black plastic mulch is the most popular one because it suppresses weed growth and 

warms up the soil during the spring. Moreover the black plastic mulch helps in the harvesting earlier in addition to reduce soil 

water losses. Thus the study was conducted to found out the effects of these several mulching on cucumber production mainly 

on its growth, development and yield performances. 

 

2. Methodology 

2. 1 Experimental Site 

On the basis of the potentiality, the experiment had been done at Navogram Farm in Mannan Nagar union which is situated at 

sadar upazila in, Noakhali 2019 that is fall under the Agroecological Zone (AEZ) 18 i.e. Young Meghna Estuarine Floodplain, 

annually inundated and fertilized by silt deposit from the Meghna estuary (Figure 1). As it was located in the tropical climatic 

zone where the average annual temperature is 25.6°C and about 2980 mm precipitation falls annually. The average maximum 

temperature during September to December is 28.1°C which was suitable for cucumber production at that region in Bangladesh. 

(Table 1) .The soil of the experimental plots was sandy loam in texture, medium high land and it was moderately alkaline with 

pH value 7.3 - 8.3 with salinity >2 dS/m, Organic matter 0.64%, ,Nitrogen 0.04%, Phosphorus 27.27%,Potassium  0.18% 

individually. Physical and Chemical characteristics of soil in research plots were noted from Soil Resource and Development 

Institute (SRDI) 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 



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33 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Figure 1. Map Showing the Research Site 

 
Table 1.  Monthly Average Climatic Condition of the Experimental Site during the Research 
 

Month Temperature (0C) Relative humidity % Total 

Rain fall (mm) Maximum Minimum Average 

September 32 26 29 89.25 60.5 

October 34 25 28 83.75 100.25 

November 32 17.9 28 80 3.25 

December 26.1 15.5 20.8 56.5 00 

Source: Weather Station of Noakhali District, Bangladesh 
 
2.2 Experimental Materials 

The material used in the research was Alavy Green variety of cucumber which was collected from Bangladesh Agricultural 
Research Institute (BARI). For mulching certainly three types such as black plastic, water hyacinth, rice straw were used. Organic 
and inorganic fertilizer, pesticide and other materials were collected from Dotterhat Seed Ghor in Noakhali. 
 
2.3 Experimental Design and Treatment 

The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In this experiment, four 
treatments were considered as following- 
T0 (Control): No mulching 
T1: Black plastic mulching. 
T2: Water hyacinth mulching. 
T3: Rice straw mulching. 
 
2.4 Land Preparation 

The selected land for the experiment was ploughed at first day of September in 2019 than it was kept open to sun for 4 days 

prior to further ploughing. Eventually, the land was prepared well by ploughing and cross ploughing followed by well laddering 

.The unit plots were prepared by keeping l m spacing in between two plots and 50 cm draining channel was dug around the 



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34 
 
 

land. There were three pits in every plot. The length and breadth of each pit was 30 cm and 30 cm respectively. Pits were 20 cm 

depth and 45 cm distance from the border of the plots.  

 
2.5 Seed Sowing and Fertilizers Application 

The seeds were sown directly in the pit where three seeds were sown in each pit at 2 to 3 cm depth. Different mulching materials 

were applied after 10 days of seed emergence. Manures and fertilizers applied uniformly in the experimental plots and pits as per 

following doses (Table 2) in accordance with the recommended dose. 

 
Table 2. Fertilizers Doses Applied on the Research Field 
 

 
2.6 Intercultural Operations 

Weeding was done whenever necessary to keep the crop free from weeds. When the seedlings were established, staking was given 

to each plant. For proper growth and development of the plants the vines were managed upward by hand and with the help of 

iron rope and nylon net. Light over-head watered were provided with a watering can to the plots immediately after germination 

of seedlings. The un-mulched plot had to be watered more frequently than the mulch plots. 

 

2.7 Data Collection 

Length of main vine, no. of lateral branches/ plant, no. leaves/ plant, no. tendrils/plant, no. of flowers/plant, no. of 

fruits/plant, individual fruit weight, fruit length parameters data were recorded from the experimental plot (from the plant with: 

Black plastic mulching, Water hyacinth mulching, Rice straw mulching, No mulching and pruning) 

 

2.8 Experimental Design 

The experiment was laid in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with one variety and 4 treatments and the 

experiment was replicated 3 times.  

 

2.9 Statistical Analysis 
The recorded data on the different parameters of the study were analyzed statistically using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) 

procedure by F test (Gomez & Gomez, 1984) P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.  

 

3. Result and Discussion 

3.1 Length of Main Vine (cm) 
Length of main vine varied significantly due to the application of treatments on cucumber plant. Average lengths of main vine 

were 113 cm, 107.97cm, 105.98cm and 103.91cm respectively for T1, T2, T3 and T0. The highest value recorded at T1 

treatment which was 113cm whereas the lowest value observed in T0 treatment (Figure 2). Similar results were found where 

Ajibola and Amujoyegbe (2019) recorded highest length of cucumber (113.21 cm) after application of black plastic mulch in 

their works. 

 
 
 
 

                       Fertilizers Recommended Dose 

Dose per Plot Dose per Pit 

Cowdung 6 kg 1 kg 

Urea 90 g 15 g 

Triple Super Phosphate 75 g 12.5 g 

            Murate of Potash 60 g 10  



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35 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Figure 2. Effects of Different Treatments on the Length of Main Vine (cm) 
 
3.2 No. of Branches per Plant 
Application of different treatments (black plastic mulching, water hyacinth mulching, rice straw mulching and no mulching  

show significant (P< 0.05) variation on the number of branches produced in each plant. From Figure.3, the average no. of 

branches was 8.33, 6.83, 5.50 and 4.33 respectively for the treatment of T1, T2, T3 and T4. . The topmost value was observed for 

T1 i.e. 8.33 and minimum value obtained for T0 that was 4.33.This agreement is similar to the experiment of Ajibola and 

Amujoyegbe (2019) where they got highest number of lateral branches (5.68) after application of black plastic mulch. 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 3. Effects of Different Treatments on the Number of Branches per plant 
 
3.3 No. of Leaves per Plant 
Figure.4 was illustrated that the maximum value obtained for T1 (black plastic mulching) was 28.33 while the minimum value 

found from T0 (no mulching method) treatments which was 22.67. Ajibola and Amujoyegbe (2019) support the current result 

as they also found highest number of leaves in each plant after application of black plastic mulch. 

113.00

107.97

105.98

103.91

96.00

98.00

100.00

102.00

104.00

106.00

108.00

110.00

112.00

114.00

116.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

L
e
n

g
th

 o
f 

m
a
in

 v
in

e
(c

m
)

Treatments

8.33

6.83

5.50

4.33

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

N
o

. b
ra

n
ch

es
 p

er
 p

la
n

t

Treatments



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36 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 4. Effects of Different Treatments on Leaves Number per Plant 

 
3.4 Number of Tendrils per Plant 
In case of tendrils number different mulching materials exhibited significant (p< 0.05) variation. Figure 5 showed that the 
highest number of tendril observed for T1 i.e. 11.52 whereas lowest obtained for T0 treatment that was 7.33. Similar result 
revealed in Ajibola and Amujoyegbe (2019) studies.  
 
3.5 Number of Flowers per Plant 
A significant (p< 0.05) different was observed on the production of flower per plant where the average number of flowers per 
plant were 16.33, 15.67, 14.00 and 12.33 individually for all treatments (Figure 6). .However, the treatment of T1 produced 
maximum number (16.33) in comparison with other treatments and the minimum (12.33) was recorded in T0 treatment (no 
mulching). It was confirmed by Wien, Minotti, and Grubinger (1993) who reported that mulching increased number of flower 
cluster on main branches and secondary branches compared with no mulch. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 5. Effects of Different Treatments on Tendril Numbers per Plant 

28.44
26.07 25.78

22.67

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

N
o

. l
e

av
e

s 
p

e
r 

p
la

n
t

Treatments

11.52

9.15

7.83
7.33

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

N
o
. 
o
f 

te
n

d
r
il

s 
p

e
r
 p

la
n

t

Treatments



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37 
 
 

 
Figure 6. Effects of Different Treatments on Flower Number Per Plant 

 
3.6 No. of Fruits per Plant 
Significant variation (P< 0.05) was seen due to the application of mulching materials in case of fruits number. The maximum 
fruits obtained for T1 treatment which was  8.78 and minimum number found from T0 treatment (no mulching method) that 
was 4.17 (Figure.7) Nair, Carpenter, and Weieneth (2013) were agreed with the provided result as they also got similar 
outcome by using black plastic mulch which gave maximum fruits in their research works. 
 
3.7 Weight of Individual Fruit (g) 
The average weight of individual fruit were 239.67 g, 212.00 g, 192.67 g and 173.67 g respectively for black plastic mulching 
(T1), water hyacinth mulching (T2), rice straw mulching (T3) and no mulching (T0) treatments used in the experiment. The 
highest weight obtained 239.67 g for T1 and on the other hand the lowest weight was found from T0 treatment which was 
173.67g (Figure 8) which is clarified by Nair et al. (2013) where they claimed that using of black plastic mulch gave highest 
weight of fruit. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Figure 7. Effects of Different Treatments on the Number of Fruits per Plant 
 

16.33 15.67
14.00

12.33

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

20.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

N
o
. 
o
f 

fl
o
w

e
r
 p

e
r
 p

la
n

t

Treatments

8.78

6.67

5.15

4.17

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

N
o

. o
f 

fr
u

it
 p

er
 p

la
n

t

Treatments



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38 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 8. Effects of Different Treatments on Weight of Individual Fruit (g) 
 
3.8 Length of Fruit (cm) 
Length of each fruit varied significantly due to the application of different mulching materials on cucumber plant where the 
highest length obtained18cm for T1treatment and lowest length recorded 9 cm for T0 (Figure 9). Both Ajibola and Amujoyegbe 
(2019) and Nair et al. (2013) conducted research were agreed with the results of the current experiment as they also found 
black plastic mulch was better than other materials to get highest length of fruits in cucumber. 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 9. Effects of Different Treatments on the Length of Individual Fruit (cm) 

 
4. Conclusion 
Some cultural practices such as mulching can be used for cucumber production. It is the practice of covering the soil to make 
more favourable condition for plant growth, development and efficient crop production. Water hyacinth, straw, saw dust, rice 
husk and black polythene are available to the farmers and resulted in reduced soil water loss by evaporation and controlling 
weeds. All treatments used in the experiment showed significant variation on the growth and yield contributing parameters. After 
the study, it can be said that if farmers used proper mulching, it will give maximum growth and yield per stated area. From the 
study it can be recommended that application of different mulches in cucumber production will provide economically viable 
results as compared to no mulch condition. 

239.67

212.00
192.67

173.67

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

T1 T2 T3 Control

W
e
ig

h
t 

o
f 

in
d

iv
id

u
a
l 

fr
u

it
(g

)

Treatments

18.0

14.1

11.7

9.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

T1 T2 T3 Control

Le
n

gt
h

 o
f 

in
d

iv
id

u
al

 fr
u

it
(c

m
)

Treatments



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Copyrights  
Copyright for this article is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal. This is an open-access 
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 

https://doi.org/10.9734/ajahr/2019/v3i229996
https://doi.org/10.1300/J068v05n01_07
https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.44.5.1419
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/farms_reports/1909
https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-10.1.43
https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.118.2.207

