SHARADA, DRADHA, TENNETI2016-08-272016-08-272004http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/74158A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2003-04 at Students’ Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to study the “Integrated nutrient management in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)”. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 12 treatments replicated thrice. Organic manures [FYM, vermicompost (VC) and neem cake (NC)] alone and in combination with two kinds of biofertilizers [Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)], chemical fertilizers and in situ green manure were tested in comparison with recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (control) using the cucumber var. Poinsette. Growth characters of cucumber such as number of days to germination, number of days taken for first female flower appearance, number of days to 50% flowering, vine length and number of branches vine-1, yield attributes such as number of fruits vine-1, fruit length, fruit girth and fruit weight, yield, quality of fruit and available NPK in soil after harvest were significantly increased with application of organic manures (FYM, NC and VC) in combination with biofertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB) and chemical fertilizers (NPK) which were significantly superior to the application of chemical fertilizer alone, application of organic manures combined with biofertilizers, application of organic manure alone and in situ green manure respectively. The later four treatments also significantly differed with each other. Judicious application of organic manures, biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers in INM system, increased 29 per cent more yield over control (RDF) and economic analysis revealed that higher net and gross returns obtained when vermicompost used as organic source but higher benefit cost ratio obtained with RDF (control). Bacterial population of Azotobacter, PSB and Total bacteria in soil after harvest was markedly increased with integrated use of organic, biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer system and was reduced with application of chemical fertilizers (control) giving better prospects for improved soil health. The correlation studies revealed that vine length, number of branches per vine, number of fruits per vine, fruit length, girth and weight of fruit, available NPK in soil and yield were positively and significantly correlated with each other. The study revealed that the integrated use of organic manures (FYM, NC and VC) in combination with biofertilizers like Azotobacter and PSB and chemical fertilizers (N, P and K) is considered most useful for obtaining maximum fruit yield, with good quality cucumber in sandy loam soils in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India.enACCEPTABILITY, SHELF, LIFE, STUDIES, PRODUCTS, DEVELOPED, SOYMILKThesis