Agronomic performance and adaptability of three varieties of watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) on sandy loam soil in derived savanna

Abstract

Amidst tropical vegetables, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is increasing popular for its numerous health benefits. In Nigeria, this vegetable crop is still under-produced in the relatively more humid southern part where it is heavily consumed. This situation is partly due to lack of empirical data on existing exotic and local varieties particularly in the southeastern region of the country. In this study, field trials with three watermelon varieties [Lagone (exotic), Koloss (exotic) and Charleston gray (local) serving as control] were conducted on a sandy loam acid soil at Nsukka in southeastern Nigeria typifying Derived Savanna. They were evaluated for agronomic performance including vegetative growth and fruit yield. Koloss took less time (~ 10 days) to emerge compared to Lagone (15 days) and Charleston gray (14 days). Lagone attained first and 50% flowering earlier (36 and 39 days, respectively) than the others. Charleston gray had the longest vine (196.42 cm) nine weeks after planting but showed fewer fruits (3.33) than the others, while Koloss showed largest fruit width (15.66 cm). Fresh fruit yield indicated nominal differences but tended to be highest in Koloss (1.95 kg/plant); Lagone and Charleston gray had 1.85 and 1.74 kg/plant, respectively. For enhanced production of watermelon, Koloss is recommended to farmers in Nsukka agro-environment and similar climate-soil zones in the savanna. In the future, this exotic variety could be hybridized with the local Charleston gray and the hybrid seeds evaluated against the pure lines.
Keywords: watermelon ecology, exotic varieties, vegetative growth, fruit yield