COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF PKC RESIDUE AND NPK FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F)

Abstract

This project work was carried out to investigate the comparative effect of combine application of PKC residue and NPK fertilizer on growth and yield performance of fluted pumpkin in the Southwest rainforest zone of Nigeria. Six treatments namely: 100%NPK (250kg/ha), 75%NPK+25%PKC, 50%NPK+50%PKC, 25%NPK+75%PKC, 100% PKC (500kg/ha) and Control treatment were applied to five fluted pumpkin genotypes at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria for two consecutive planting seasons under rain-fed practices in the year 2011 and 2012.The treatments were replicated three times in each season using a randomized complete block design fitted into a factorial experiment. The effect of combine use of PKC residue and NPK fertilizer on growth and yield performance of five fluted pumpkin genotypes were studied. Pumpkin genotype PA (i.e. type with 4.5kg soft pod weight) which had the highest mean values in most of the growth parameters including the number of branches tend to be the best for shoot production. However, the unparalleled higher weight values and nutrient quality of genotype PD are factors that could make it preferred to genotype PA. For the effect of manure application, the growth parameters and yield components of the various pumpkin genotypes were assessed and subjected to statistical analysis. The results showed significant differences in the effect of NPK (250kg/ha), 75%NPK + 25%PKC, and 50%NPK+50%PKC when compare with 25%NPK + 75%PKC, PKC(500kg/ha), and Control treatment (P≤0.05). During the two seasons, the highest mean values of the growth and yield components were obtained by sole application of NPK fertilizer. Similarly, the values are in most cases not significantly different from those obtained by applying 75%NPK + 25%PKC and 50%NPK + 50%PKC, while Control treatment with zero application recorded the least values in all parameters investigated. For instance, the mean values of number of leaves and leaf weight obtained from the different rates and combinations of manure applied at 10weeks after planting during season 2 are as follows ; 100%NPK (127.47,665.53g), 75%NPK + 25%PKC (114.91,531.33g), 50%NPK+50%PKC(117.11,450.67g), 5%NPK+75%PKC(84.40,376.60g), 100%PKC(74.38, 347.33g), Control (73.47, 333.47g). It is vividly observed in this project that the effect of applying combined NPK and PKC in the ratio of 75:25 and 50:50 are not significantly different to that of NPK alone. Therefore, the said combine ratios of application are recommended as substitute for the use of NPK alone.