Nutritional Value of Cucumber Cultivated in Three Selected States of Nigeria

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) which was only cultivated in Northern Nigeria in the past, is now cultivated in other parts of Nigeria. However there is no data to show the nutritional quality of cucumber as it relates to the location of cultivation. This research involved the cultivation of cucumber in three selected states of Nigeria, (Rivers, Imo and Plateau State) with the same variety, same technique and treatment. At ten weeks after planting, the cucumber was harvested. The fruit were observed, their quantity, weight and length measured and recorded. The proximate analysis was carried out using standard laboratory technique; mineral analysis (K+, Na+, Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn and Zn) was analyzed using the Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer technique. The result of the physical appearance showed no difference. Also the result of proximate analysis showed that the cucumber cultivated in Plateau State differ significantly at P<0.05 in moisture, protein, crude fiber, ash and fat content when compared with cucumber cultivated in Imo and Rivers States. The result of the mineral analysis showed that cucumber cultivated in Rivers state had the highest value in Ca and Mg content and cucumber cultivated in Plateau State had the highest value in K+, Cu, Mn, Na+ and Zn content. The result revealed that cucumber cultivated in Plateau State significantly differ in mineral content. Thus we may say that location is an important factor that could reflect on the nutritional quality of the cucumber