Evaluation of Different Staking Methods on the Performance of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in Ibadan, Oyo State

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely consumed vegetable crop with increasing commercial importance in urban and peri-urban markets of South West Nigeria. Despite its economic potential, poor crop management practices, particularly inadequate staking, significantly reduce yields and fruit quality in smallholder settings. This study evaluates the influence of four staking methods, including bamboo, wire trellis, nylon rope, and unstaked control, on the vegetative growth, flowering, and fruit yield of cucumber in Ibadan, Oyo State. A field experiment was conducted on the experimental plots of the University of Ibadan Teaching and Research Farm during the dry season using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on vine length, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, and fruit quality parameters. Analysis of variance was applied to determine significant differences among treatments. The results indicate that wire trellis staking produced the highest fruit yield and quality, while unstaked plants recorded the lowest performance. Bamboo staking was identified as a cost-effective alternative suitable for resource-constrained farmers. The study recommends wire trellis staking for commercially oriented cucumber farmers while bamboo staking is proposed for subsistence-level producers. These findings contribute to the growing body of horticultural management literature relevant to South West Nigerian production systems. Keywords: cucumber, staking methods, fruit yield, Cucumis sativus, Ibadan