<![CDATA[Declines in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production and the accumulation of plastic in the soil are major obstacles to achieving productive and sustainable cultivation. This study aims to analyze the effects of different mulch types—coconut fiber mulch (P1), plastic mulch (P2), and no mulch (P0)—on the growth and yield of cucumber plants, as well as to determine which mulch type yields the best results. The study was conducted in Lasara Sowu Village, North Gunungsitoli Subdistrict, Gunungsitoli City, from March to May 2026 using a non-factorial Randomized Group Design (RGD) with three treatments and four replicates. The parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of fruits, fruit weight, and fruit length. The results of the study showed that the type of mulch treatment had a significant to highly significant effect on all parameters tested. The coconut husk mulch treatment yielded the highest values and was significantly different compared to the no-mulch and plastic mulch treatments, with an average plant height of 165.16 cm, 38.58 leaves, 3.83 branches, 22.42 fruits, a fruit weight of 4,191.58, and a fruit length of 84.74. In contrast, the treatments without mulch and with plastic mulch generally showed no significant differences. Thus, coconut coir mulch is the most effective type of mulch and is recommended as an alternative to plastic mulch in cucumber cultivation, as it can enhance growth and crop yield while supporting environmentally friendly farming practices.]]>
