Economic Viability and Effect of Rate and Split Application of Albert’s Fertilizer on Growth and Yield Performances of Salad Cucumber Grown in an Automated Protected House in the Low Country Wet Zone of Sri Lanka

An experiment was accomplished in an automated protected house in low country wet zone of Sri Lanka to study the economic viability and growth and yield of Salad cucumber as affected by rate and split application of Albert’s fertilizer. Four replicates were used in a 2 x 3 Factorial Completely Randomized Design. The two factors were rate of fertilizer (1.0 g/plant/day, 1.5 g/plant/day and 2.0 g/plant/day) and number of split applications of fertilizer (1 time/day, 2 times/day and 3 times/day). Growth and yield parameters were recorded at weekly intervals and at harvesting respectively. Additionally, economic viability was evaluated using the benefit-cost ratio. According to results, there is no interaction effect between rate and split application of fertilizer for growth and yield parameters of salad cucumber. In addition, there is no significant effect of the split application of fertilizer for both growth and yield parameters of salad cucumber. However, vine length, number of leaves per vine, length of the 21^st internode, days taken for first flowering, fresh weight of fruits and number of fruits were significantly affected by rate of fertilizer. The treatments of 1.5g and 2.0 g/plant/day gave significantly higher values on vine length, number of leaves per vine, length of the 21^st internode, fresh weight of fruits and number of fruits. Also, Albert’s fertilizer application at 2.0 g/plant/day gave a significantly lower value for the days taken for first flowering. Considering the economic point of view and higher yield 1.5 g/plant/day applied as single dose can be recommended as the most suitable treatment. The benefit-cost ratio per unit area of land is 3.13 excluding labour cost and 1.52 including labour cost. Therefore, salad cucumber cultivation under protected house conditions in low country wet zone of Sri Lanka is profitable for farmers and they can obtain more remunerative incomes by using their own labour.