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Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus On the Growth and Yield Of Egusi Melon (<i>Colocynthis citrullus</i>) in Cross River State


OA Agba

Abstract

The effect of Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on the growth and yield of Eguis melon (Colocynthis citrullus) were investigated in two field experiments at the Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop/Soil Science, Obubra Campus, Cross River University of Technology. The experiment was a 4x5 factorial laid out in Randomized complete Block design with three replications. Treatments comprised four levels of phosphorus (Single super phosphate) at 0.0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha and five levels of nitrogen (Urea): 0.0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha. The vegetative growth (vine length, leaves and number of branches per plant) increased significantly with progressive increases in nitrogen rate. Nitrogen at 200 kg/ha produced higher vine length and branches then the other rates. The used of phosphorus significantly enhanced earlier flowering by reducing days to first and 50% flowering in equsi melon. Phosphorus at 60kg/ha produced better fruit and seed yield per hectare. Fruit and seed yield were best with a combined application of 40 and 150kg/ha of nitrogen.

Key words: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, growth, Yield, egusi melon

Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol.2(2) 2004: 1-7

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eISSN: 1597-0906