Effect of Organic Manure (Poultry Droppings, Cow Manure and Pig Manure) and Inorganic Fertilizer (N. P.K. 15:15:15) on the Growth and Yield of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis)

Abstract

The study was conducted during rainy season between May and August 2019 at the Teaching and Research Farm of Crop Science and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus. This experiment was carried out to test the effect of different organic manure viz; cow manure, poultry droppings and pig manure and inorganic fertilizer N.P.K 15:15:15 on the growth and yield of fluted pumpkin. There were five treatments: Control, 10t/ha Poultry droppings, 12t/ha Cow manure, 10t/ha Pig manure and N.P.K 15:15:15 which was replicated four times making it 20 plots. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Data were collected on Seedling Emergence Percentage, Number of Leaves, Number of Branches, Vine Length and Fresh Weight of Leaf. At 2WAP and 6WAP for Number of leaves cow manure gave the highest mean number while at 4WAP, pig manure came out highest. For Number of branches at 2WAP and 6WAP, Pig manure gave the highest mean value while at 4WAP, Cow manure performed best. For VIne Length, Pig manure gave the highest mean number at both 2WAP and 4WAP. While at 4WAP Poultry droppings performed highest. For Fresh Weight of Fluted pumpkin Cow manure performed the highest at both 8WAP and 11WAP.However, these parameters showed an increase with the application of the different organic manure (Poultry droppings, Cow manure and Pig manure) while N.P.K 15:15:15 and control (untreated plot) did not successfully show much increased on the growth and yield parameters measured. Based on the result of the study, the parameters suggests that Organic manure releases enough nutrient elements which are required for maximum growth and yield of fluted pumpkin and they are recommended as soil amendment for soil productivity  and high crop yield