Effects of poultry manure on nutrient uptake of <i>Cucurbita moschata</i> (duch. <i>ex</i> lam.) duch. <i>ex</i> poir

Abstract

The effects of poultry manure (pm) on nutrient uptake of Cucurbita moschata (Duch. ex Lam.) Duch. ex Poir. were conducted in the University of Port Harcourt Botanical Garden. Six treatments viz; 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kilogram of poultry manure per hectare (kg pm/ha) were used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. These treatments were applied once to two week-old seedlings of C. moschata using ring method. The effects of these treatments on leaf N, P, K, Ca, Na and Mg concentrations were studied for six weeks. Soil nutrient levels were also monitored for 0 and 6 weeks. The crude protein and chlorophyll contents were also studied. The study showed that poultry manure increased the nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Na and Mg) of C. moschata. The highest uptake of N, K, Na and Mg concentrations were obtained from treatment at 400 kg pm/ha while 300 kg pm/ha gave the highest uptake for Ca and P concentrations. In all cases, the lowest nutrient uptake was recorded in the control. Crude protein and chlorophyll contents were also found to be higher at 400 kg pm/ha treatment. At P<0.05, there were significant difference among treatments. The poultry manure increased the soil nutrient. The study recommends an application rate of 400 kg pm/ha for the cultivation of C. moschata.

Key words: Poultry manure, Nutrient uptake, Cucurbita moschata