VEGETATIVE PERFORMANCE OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) AS INFLUENCED BY ORGANIC FERTILIZER RATE

Abstract

Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalisHook F.) is a leaf vegetable member of the Cucurbitaceae family commonly grown in Africa, especially in the south eastern part of Nigeria where it is popularly grown for its edible seeds and leaf. An experiment was carried out to ascertain the influence of organic fertilizers (Poultry manure and Nnasaf) at different rates, on the growth and yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) from March to August, 2019 and September 2019 to January 2020 at the Horticultural Nursery of the Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology, Gidan Kwano Campus Minna, Niger State. The organic materials investigated were Poultry manure and Nnasaf manure at four rates (0, 100, 200, 300 g/pot) equivalent to 18,670, 37,340, 56,010 kg/ha in a pot of size 70 cm by 40 cm. The experimental design was a 2 x 4 factorial arranged in a Completely Randomized Design, replicated four times. The longest vines (101.83 and 121.50 cm), highest number of leaves (57 and 58), broadest leaves (54.28 2 and 58.91 cm ), and highest fresh yields (66.36 and 70.01) g, were from Nnasaf manure applied at 56,010 kg/ha at the first and second trials, respectively while the shortest vines (99 and 50.83 cm), 2 narrowest leaves (49.84 and 115.93 cm ), smallest number of leaves and the lowest fresh weight were from seedlings fertilized with poultry manure at 18,670 kg/ha. Rates of Poultry manure and Nnasaf manure had significant effect on the growth and yield parameters taken. It is therefore recommended that application of Nnasaf manure at 56,010 kg/ha should be considered optimum for the growth and fresh weight of fluted pumpkin.