Growth response of musk melon (Cucumis melo L.) varieties to intra-row spacing and poultry manure rate in Nigerian savanna

Abstract

A two-location trial was conducted during the 2023 wet season in Dutsin-Ma, Sudan Savanna ecological zone, and Malumfashi, Northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone, Nigeria, to evaluate the growth performance of Musk melon (Cucumis melo L.) varieties as influenced by intra-row spacing and rates of poultry manure application. The treatments consisted 2x3x4 factorial combinations of two varieties of musk melon (NEPTUNE F1 and URANUS F1), three different intra-row spacing (25cm, 50cm and 75cm) and four poultry manure rates (0, 5, 10 and 15 tons per hectare). The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Variety was only significant (P<0.05) on shoot dry weight and net assimilation rate, where NEPTUNE F1 produced significantly (P<0.05) higher shoot dry weight and net assimilation rate than URANUS F1. Intra row spacing significantly (P<0.05) increased growth parameters, where sowing musk melon at 50cm produced significantly (P<0.05) higher shoot dry weight, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate than other intra row spacings, but 75cm intra row spacing showed better performance on number of leaves and vine length than other intra row spacings in both locations. Application of poultry manure significantly (P<0.05) increased growth parameters, where applying 15 t poultry manure ha^-1 produced significantly (P<0.05) higher values than most of the measured growth parameters. In conclusion, sowing NEPTUNE F1 at an intra-row spacing of 50 cm with the application of 15 t poultry manure ha-1 produced better growth performance of musk melon in the study area.