Influence of Calcium Chloride and Salicylic Acid on Performance of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

Aim: The present investigation was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, during 2025-26 to study the effects of calcium chloride and salicylic acid on growth, yield and fruit quality of cucumber. Methodology: The experiment consisted of two factors: the first was calcium chloride (C) with four levels, viz. control (C0), CaCl2 @ 0.2% (C1), CaCl2 @ 0.3% (C2) and CaCl2 @ 0.5% (C3) and the second factor was salicylic acid (S) with four levels, viz. control (S0), SA @ 0.5 mM (S1), SA @ 1.0 mM (S2) and SA @ 1.5 mM (S3) resulting in 16 treatment combinations. Results: The growth parameters measured in this study differed significantly among the treatment combinations. The greatest values for growth parameters, viz., maximum vine length of 148.42 cm at 60 days after sowing and 204.78 cm at harvesting, number of branches per plant of 7.10 at 60 DAS and 8.70 at harvest, minimum days required for appearance of first male flower of 34.97 days and minimum days required for appearance of first female flower of 39.93 days and a minimum sex ratio of 8.98 were observed in C3S3 (CaCl2 @ 0.5% x Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). For the yield parameters, viz., the maximum number of fruits per plant, 11.10, was observed in C3 (CaCl2 @0.5%) among the different levels of calcium chloride while among the different levels of salicylic acid, the maximum number of fruits per plant, 10.41, was observed in S3 (Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). The maximum fruit length of 24.78 cm was observed in C3S3 (CaCl2 @ 0.5% x Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). Among the different levels of calcium chloride, the maximum average fruit weight of 134.97 g was observed in C3 (CaCl2 @0.5%), while among the different levels of salicylic acid, the maximum average fruit weight of 132.26 g was observed in S3 (Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). The maximum fruit yield per plant of 1.76 kg and total yield of 156.44 q/ha were observed in C3S3 (CaCl2 @ 0.5% x Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). For fruit quality, viz., maximum TSS of 3.70 °Brix, ascorbic acid content of 9.97 mg/100 g pulp and moisture content of 99.01% were observed in C3S3 (CaCl2 @ 0.5% x Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). The maximum net return of 307058.3 Rs/ha and the maximum B:C ratio of 2.34 were recorded in C3 x S3 (CaCl2 @ 0.5% x Salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM). Conclusion: The present investigation indicates that the application of CaCl2 @ 0.5% together with salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM enhanced cucumber growth, yield, fruit quality and economic returns.