EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MULCH ON THE AGRONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.), ECUADOR

Most crops are affected by various factors, such as soil temperature and microclimate, which significantly affect plant development. The use of cover crops or mulch has a positive impact on soil temperature and microclimate, root zone temperature, microbial life and soil physical properties, contributing to increased crop productivity. The objective of this research was to evaluate the agronomic development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under cover crop management. Soil temperature, relative humidity, environmental temperature and soil physical properties, as well as morphological characteristics and performance variables, were evaluated. A Latin square design was used, where the study factor was different types of organic mulch: bare soil (control; T1), banana (T2), straw (T3), and cocoa (T4). The results showed that the mulch treatments reduced soil temperature by to 4.69 degrees C (T3) compared to the control, generating a more stable microclimate. T3 and T4 showed the best values in terms of stem diameter, biomass and yield (7,61 t ha(-1) and 6,39 t ha(-1), respectively). conclusion, the cover crops evaluated are an effective tool for enhancing the productivity and yield of cucumber crop.