Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 56: 4080 - 4088. Published August, 2012.
* Olaniyi Joel Oyekunle and Oyerele Titilayo Abosede
Department of Agronomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P M B
4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author’s E
mail: Olaniyikunle2005@yahoo.com
RESUME
Objectives: Field trials
were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, Ogbomoso in 2010 and 2011 to determine the effect of fertilizer
types on the growth, yield and nutritional composition of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia
occidentalis).
Methodology
and results:
The treatments involved nine fertilizer types namely; Alesinloye grade A, Alesinloye
grade B, Sunshine grade A, Sunshine grade B, Pace setter grade A, Pace setter
grade B, Neem compost, Poultry manure and Tithonia compost. Fluted pumpkin
served as the test crop. The fertilizer types were applied at two levels each
(0 and 60 kg N ha-1). The treatments were assigned into a randomized
complete block design with three replicates. Data were collected on growth
parameters, nutritional composition and yield attributes of fluted pumpkin. The
parameters assessed were significantly influenced (P≤0.05) by the applied
fertilizer types. The highest vine length, number of leaves, nutritional
composition, fresh shoots and seed yields were recorded at 60 kg N ha,-1
irrespective of the fertilizer types. Although, the best performance of fluted
pumpkin in terms of growth and fresh shoot yield were obtained from neem
compost fertilizer type, this was comparable with results obtained with
tithonia compost. The highest P (0.83%), K (0.82%), Mg (3.20%), Ca (0.48%), Fe
(4.63%) and protein (4.60 mg/kg) contents of fluted pumpkin shoot were obtained
from the plants under poultry manure treatment while plants receiving no
fertilizer application recorded the least values for all nutritional attributes
assessed. Neem compost (86.1 kg/ha) closely followed by tithonia compost (62.7
kg/ha) gave highest seed yield of fluted pumpkin as compared to other
fertilizer types. Although, neem compost and poultry manure gave the best
performance in terms of yield and nutritional composition respectively, there
is no significant difference between the values obtained from these treatments
and that recorded from tithonia compost.
Conclusion
and application:
The growth, nutritional composition and yield of fluted pumpkin were improved
by fertilizer types and neem compost, poultry manure and tithonia compost in
that descending order are adjudged as the best fertilizer types for Ogbomoso,
the Guinea Savanna zone of south west Nigeria.
Key
words:
Telfairia occidentalis, compost, manure, organomineral fertilizers, organic
fertilizers, yield, shoot quality
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