ABSTRACT
Two field
experiments were conducted at eastern farm of Michael Okpara University of
Agriculture Umudike in 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons to determine the optimum
plant population of egusi melon (Colocynthis citrullus) (L) O.Ktz) for weed
control and yield of sweet corn/egusi melon intercrop. The treatments were laid
out in a 2 x 3 x 3 factorial in randomized completer block design (RCBD) with
three replicates. There were two cropping systems (sole and intercrop ), three
egusi melon planting densities (0, 10,000 and 20,000 plants/ha) and three
weeding frequencies (0, l manual weeding 3 weeks after planting (W AP) and two
manual weeding at (3 and 8 WAP). The results showed that seed yield of egusi
melon was higher with higher egusi plant population in both years whereas sweet
com grain yield was not affected by egusi plant population. Yield of sweet com
was highest with two wccdings whereas there was no yield difference for egusi
melon weeded once or twice. The 20,000 plants per hectare of sole egusi melon
population at two manual weedings followed by 20,000 plants/ha egusi intercropped
with sweet corn weeded once had the least weed dry matter, indicating efficient
low cost weeding management by simple expedient of using biological and
cultural weed control strategics. The land equivalent ratio was > 1.0
indicating yield advantages of intercropping system. This showed that sweet com
could be successfully intercropped with egusi melon for optimum yield
MICHAEL, U (2023). 'Determination of optimum plant population of egusi melon (Colocynthls citrullus (L) O. KTz) for weed control and yield of sweet corn/egusi melon intercrops'. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Dec 21, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/determination-of-optimum-plant-population-of-egusi-melon-colocynthls-citrullus-l-o-ktz-for-weed-control-and-yield-of-sweet-cornegusi-melon-intercrops-7-2
UNIVERSITY, MICHAEL. "'Determination of optimum plant population of egusi melon (Colocynthls citrullus (L) O. KTz) for weed control and yield of sweet corn/egusi melon intercrops'" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 07 Jul. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/determination-of-optimum-plant-population-of-egusi-melon-colocynthls-citrullus-l-o-ktz-for-weed-control-and-yield-of-sweet-cornegusi-melon-intercrops-7-2. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
UNIVERSITY, MICHAEL. "'Determination of optimum plant population of egusi melon (Colocynthls citrullus (L) O. KTz) for weed control and yield of sweet corn/egusi melon intercrops'". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 07 Jul. 2023. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/determination-of-optimum-plant-population-of-egusi-melon-colocynthls-citrullus-l-o-ktz-for-weed-control-and-yield-of-sweet-cornegusi-melon-intercrops-7-2 >.
UNIVERSITY, MICHAEL. "'Determination of optimum plant population of egusi melon (Colocynthls citrullus (L) O. KTz) for weed control and yield of sweet corn/egusi melon intercrops'" Mouau.afribary.org (2023). Accessed 21 Dec. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/determination-of-optimum-plant-population-of-egusi-melon-colocynthls-citrullus-l-o-ktz-for-weed-control-and-yield-of-sweet-cornegusi-melon-intercrops-7-2