Full Length Research Paper
* 1Opara, E U. and 2Ezenwa L.I
Abstract
A field trial was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm of Michael Okpara University, Umudike Abia State, to determine the efficacy of local fruit- organic wastes in the control of soft rot disease of Cucumis sativus (cucumber) and to evaluate its yield response to organic wastes. From the results, it was observed that the treatments had significant effect (P<0.01) on all the growth parameters tested such as vine length, e.g. poultry droppings gave significant higher value (5.17cm) than the control (3.75cm). Regarding Stem Diameter, three of the organic wastes, poultry droppings (1.00cm), plantain peels (0.87cm) and palm bunch (0.95cm) all performed better when compared with the control at 1% significant level. Also in terms of number of flowers, had higher mean values than the untreated control there were significant differences (P<0.01). The effect of the wastes on yield was also considered, poultry droppings had best performance (4.67) and (886.67g) on number of flowers and fruit weight respectively followed by cassava peels with3.67 and 566.67g on respectively for flowers and fruit weight (P ≤ 0.01) these proved more superior than the control. Similarly, on seed weight all treatments did fare better than the untreated with poultry droppings taking the lead. In the same vane the severity of soft rot disease was significantly reduced by all the organic wastes with poultry droppings having higher control ability on disease severity (2.0) while the control showed the poorest. From the result therefore, it was found that all the treatments used were effective in controlling Erwinia carotovora of Cucumis sativus in the field and led to less disease incidence, severity and increased fruit weight when compared with the control.