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Yield evaluation of water melon (Citrullus lanatus L.) on Alfisols using organic fertilizer as nutrients source in Makurdi, Nigeria

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, PMB 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, PMB 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria
  • 3Department of Crop & Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture, PMB 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 11, Issue (1), Pages 20-23, March,8 (2023)

Abstract

There is a general misconception among small holder farmers in the Southern Guinea Savanna that water melon do not necessarily required fertilizer input for growth and yield. As a consequence, there has been decline in yield of the crop. In order to demonstrate the importance of fertilizer to the crop, a field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 under rain fed conditions. The experiment had six levels of organic fertilizer; (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000) kg/ha. The experiment was in three replications and laid out in Randomised Complete Block Design. Soil samples of the experiment location were analysed for nutrient composition before sowing and after harvest. Growth and yield data collected were treated using ANOVA (Pā‰¤0.05). The concentration of organic matter, nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable cations in the soil were relatively increased upon addition of organic fertilizer. Also, vine length and fruits per plant of water melon was significantly influenced by fertilizer application; fruit yield was low in non fertilizer treatments. Therefore, yield of water melon in the study area can be optimized using organic fertilizer as soil amendment.

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