ABSTRACT

Three field experiments were conducted in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Research Farm, Umudike during the 2013 and 2014 second cropping seasons. Experiment I evaluated the effect of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure on growth and yield of fluted pumpkin (Tefairia occidentalis) on an ultisol in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria. Treatments comprised of combined application of 4 levels of poultry manure (pm) (0, 5, 10, 15 t/ha) and 4 rates of NPK 15:15:15 (0, 100, 200, 300 kg/ha). These were laid out in 4 x 4 randomized complete block design with three replications, with each plot measured 2 m x 3 m (6 m2) at 1 .0m x 1 .Om spacing with two seeds per stand (20,000 pIts/ha). The result showed that application of either 300 kg/ha NPK or 10 t/ha poultry manure produced the longest vine and highest leaf area index (LAJ) in all sampling dates. On the average, combined application of 300 kg/ha NPK and 10 t/ha poultry manure (pm) produced optimum marketable shoot yield of 31 .8 t/ha. Similarly either 100 kg/ha NPK or 5 t/ha poultry manure produced the highest number of pods/plant while the interaction of 100 kg/ha NPK and 10 t/ha pm produced the highest pod weight/plant, and pod yield of 86.07t/ha on the average. The interaction of 300 kg/ha NPK and 15 t/ha poultry manure produce the highest number of seeds per pod while the interaction of 200 kg/ha NPK and 10 t/ha poultry manure produced the higher 100 seed weight in both years. However, the lowest marketable shoot and pod yield of 10.2 t/ha and 28.40 t/ha respectively were obtained with the control. Experiment 2 measured the effect of spacing and harvest frequency on the growth and yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) on an ultisol in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria. Treatments comprised of three levels of plant spacing: 1 .0 m x 0.5 m (16 pIt/plot = 20,000 pit/ha), 1 .0 rn x 1.0 m (8 plts/plot = 10,000 pIt/ha), 1 .0 m x 1 .5 m (6 pIts/plot = 6,666 pit/ha) and three harvest frequencies (2 wkly, 3 wkly and 4 wkly intervals). The experiment was laid out in 3 x 3 randomized complete block design with three replications. Each plot measured 2 m x 4 m (8 rn2) with one seed per stand. Generally the use of lowest spacing of 1.0 m x 0.5 m or 4 weekly harvest frequency resulted in highest LAI in all sampling dates while the widest spacing of 1.0 m x 1.5 m or 4 weekly cuts produced the longest vine in all sampling dates, maximum marketable shoot weight/plant, number of seeds/pod, and 100 seed weight. However, on the average, optimum marketable shoot and pod yields of 16.4 t/ha and 71.2 t/ha respectively were obtained from the use of 1 .0 x 0.5 ni spacing and 4 weekly harvest frequency in both croppings. Experii-nent 3 evaluated the effect of tillage and seed placement method on the growth and yield of fluted pumpkin (Te/faira occidentalis) on an ultisol in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria. Treatment consist of three methods of tillage (bed tillage, tilled flat and no tillage) and seed placement methods were vertical (hilum down) and horizontal placement (hilum sideways). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split plot arrangement with three replications where tillage methods were the main plots and placement methods were sub plots with each measured 2 ni x 3 ni (6 rn2) with two seeds sown per stand (20,000 pits/ha) at 4 cm deep. Seed sown vertically in bed and tilled flat emerged earlier than other treatments. Optimum LAI, 100 seed weight, as well as average marketable shoot and pod yields of 29.03 kg/ha and 85.2 t/ha respectively were produced from bed tiliage and vertical seed placement method in 2013 and 2014.