Nitrogen fertilizer effect on the yield and quality of fluted pumpkin (<i>Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F</i>)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the yield and seed quality of fluted pumpkin during 2004-2005 cropping seasons. A randomized complete block design was used with six rates of nitrogen fertilizer as urea: 0, 30, 45, 45, 60 and 75kg urea/ha and replicated four times. Each plot size was 4x5m. Split doses at 16 and 83 days after transplanting (DAT) as top dressing. Data on Vine-length, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of branches, days to flowering, pods, aborted pods and the seed weight. Result were analysed using ANOVA and means were separated using LSD at 5% level of significance. Significant effect were only observed between the control (OkgN/ha) and 30kgN/ha for both seed and pulp on the seed dry matter (DM). The husk, showed significant effect between treatments 30 and 45kg/ha.