Growth response and quality of egusi

melon in response to poultry manure rate

and post-manural time of planting
 EFFECTS OF POST-MANURING PLANTING TIME AND POULTRY MANURE RATE ON
GROWTH, YIELD, SOIL NUTRIENT AND SEED PROXIMATE CONTENT OF EGUSI MELON
(Colocynthis citrullus L.)

A PRE-DATA SEMINAR

BY

OKPARAOJIEGO, CHINAZO JUDITH

PG/16/0318

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF AGRICULTURE (M. AGRIC.) - HORTICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE
COLLEGE OF PLANT SCIENCE AND CROP PRODUCTION
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA

SUPERVISOR: DR E. A. MAKINDE
 INTRODUCTION
• Egusi melon Colocynthis citrullus L is a member of the cucurbitaceae family of about
100 genera and over 750 species (Yamaguchi, 1983). It has been referred to in some
texts as Citrullus vulgaris (Okoli, 1984) and Citrullus lanatus (Ogunremi, 1978).

• It is one of the vegetable species of the cucurbitaceae family that has gained
popularity both in cultivation and consumption in most West African countries (Van
der Vossen et al., 2004; Oluba et al., 2008).

• It is a creeping annual herb, the egusi melon has large three-lobed hairy leaves,
creeping or climbing hairy stems, simple or branched tendrils. It has a very extensive
and superficial root system.
 INTRODUCTION
• Tropical soils are adversely affected by sub-optimal soil fertility and erosion, causing
deterioration of the nutrient status and changes in the populations of soil organism
(Akande et al., 2010).

• The use of organic manures as a means of maintaining and increasing soil productivity
has been advocated (Cobbley, 1976).

• Organic matter improves soil tilth, increases water-holding capacity, lessens erosion,
improves soil aeration and has a beneficial effect on soil microorganisms and plants.

• Organic material such as poultry manure is identified as a suitable organic fertilizer.

Poultry manure, if properly handled is the most valuable of all animal manures.
 INTRODUCTION
• The use of poultry manure for soil fertility maintenance, growth and yield of

horticultural crops like tomato has been reported (Adekiya and Agbede,2009).

• The high nutrient composition of poultry manure especially with respect to

Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus content makes it an excellent fertilizer material

(Hochmuth et al., 2009).

• Ogbonna and Obi (2007) conducted a study involving the effect of poultry manure

on egusi melon using three rates of poultry manure and recorded increase in the seed

yield of egusi melon with increasing rates of poultry manure applied.

 IMPORTANCE OF EGUSI MELON
• Schippers (2002) acknowledged the crop as occupying a vital role in the income
generation ability of subsistence Africans.

• The seeds provide a well relished condiment for soup. The seeds are rich in
vegetable protein, fat and vitamins (Adewusi et al., 2000).

• The seeds contain up to 50% oil and 35% protein and have both nutritional and
cosmetic importance (Jack, 1972).

• Oil extracts from the seeds are used in the production of biscuits, margarines and
soaps (Ajibola, 1990)
 IMPORTANCE OF EGUSI MELON
• The young leaves and fruits of egusi melon are consumed as food in Burkina Faso.
Nevertheless, this is of secondary importance compared to the seeds (Schippers,
2002).

• The crop provides excellent ground cover (Lal, 1995). As their leaves spread all
over the soil surface.

• It reduces surface runoff, controls erosion, thereby improving the soil structure. It
is also highly effective for weed suppression (Adewusi et al., 2000; Wang et al.,
2006).
 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
• Since egusi seeds have been proven to have a high nutritional content, there is
need to motivate farmers’ interest into large scale cultivation of egusi melon with
an evidence to prove that high seed yields are obtainable with appropriate farming
practices.

• Poultry manure application has also been known to improve seed nutritional
quality and increase seed yield which are essential information to the farmer.

• Organic manures are known to release nutrient slowly, as such there is need to
determine the nutrient release with the rate of manure application.
 OBJECTIVES
• To determine the rate of poultry manure required for optimum growth, seed

yield and proximate content of egusi seed.

• To determine the appropriate time of planting after manure application for

optimum growth and seed yield of egusi melon.

 MATERIALS AND METHOD
Location of study
• The experiment will be conducted at the Skills Acquisition Project for Horticultural Students
(SAPHS) plot, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (3 0 25ʹE and 70 25ʹE).

• The region is characterized by bimodal rainfall pattern with a long rainy season which usually
starts in late March while the rainy season extends from September to early November after a
short dry spell in August.

Planting Materials
• Seeds of ‘Egusi’ melon will be sourced from a reputable source.
 MATERIALS AND METHOD
Experimental Design

• The experiment will be a 2×4 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated
four (4) times
Treatments
There will be two (2) factors in this experiment;

1. Poultry manure rate

• 0tonnes per hectare
• 5tonnes per hectare
• 10tonnes per hectare
• 15tonnes per hectare
2. Time of planting
• 2 weeks after manure application
 MATERIALS AND METHOD
Field Preparation
The field will be ploughed, harrowed and cleared. The field will be divided into plot sizes of 4m x 3m
with 2m spacing between plots and 2m spacing between replicates. There will be four (4) replicates of
eight (8) plots each. Hence, there will be 32 plots altogether. The field area will be 40m × 24m
(960m2).

Soil Sampling
Pre-cropping soil sampling will be done before planting. Soil samples will be collected at
different locations within the field and bulked together to obtain a composite sample from which
a little quantity of soil will be collected and analysed for physical and chemical properties.
 MATERIALS AND METHOD
Manure application
Poultry manure will be obtained from a battery cage system in its dry cured form. It will be
analysed for determination of it’s chemical properties. The poultry manure will be weighed out at
5t/ha, 10t/ha and 15t/ha using a weighing balance and replicated 8 times each. It will be
broadcasted on the appropriate plots and worked into the soil with the use of a West African hoe.

Planting
Egusi melon seeds will be sown at three (3) seeds per hole at the spacing of 100cm by 100cm.
Planting will be done at two weeks after manure application and four weeks after manure
application.
 DATA COLLECTION
• Number of leaves per plant: This will be done by visual counting of the number of leaves per
plant from two (2) weeks after planting at two (2) weeks intervals .

• Number of branches: The number of primary branches on the plants will be counted from 2
weeks after planting at two (2) weeks intervals .

• Vine length: Measurement of the vine length will be taken using a flexible meter rule, from soil
level of the plant to the vine apex from two (2) weeks after planting at two (2) weeks intervals

• Leaf area per plant: the leaf area will be determined using the linear model according to
Wahua (1975) given as: Leaf area = -30.53+7.41x.
Where x = mid-rib length of central lobe.
 DATA COLLECTION
• Mid-rib length: This will be measured using a flexible meter rule extended from the
apex of the central lobe to the leaf base.

• Days to first flowering: The number of days required for plants to produce first flower
in each plot will be recorded by counting the days from the dates of planting to date of
first flower initiation.

• Days to 50 percent flowering: The number of days required for 50% of the plants to
produce first flower in each plot will be recorded by counting the days from the dates of
planting .
 DATA COLLECTION

• Number of fruits per plot: This will be taken by visual counting of number of fruits per

plot.

• Average fruit weight per plot: This will be done by weighing five randomly selected

fruits per plot using a weighing balance and dividing the sum by five.

• Number of seeds per fruit: This will be done by selecting and processing five fruits

randomly per plot and extracting their seeds. The seeds would then be counted, the

number gotten would be divided by five.

 ANALYSIS

• SOIL ANALYSIS: Post cropping soil samples will be collected at different locations in

each plot to obtain a sample that will be analysed for physical and chemical properties.

• POST HARVEST ANALYSIS: Proximate analysis will be done on the seeds to obtain

the oil content and protein content.

• DATA ANALYSIS: Data collected will be analysed using GenStat statistical software

package following analysis of variance procedures. The means will be separated using

Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% significant level.

REFERENCES
• Adekiya, A. O. and Agbede, T. M. (2009): Growth and Yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)
as influenced by poultry manure and NPK fertilizer. Emir. J. Food Agric. 21(1):10-20.

• Adewusi, H., Ladipo, D.O., Sarumi, M.B., Adebisi, A.A. and Vodonhe, R. (2000). Egusi production,
utilization and diversity in Nigeria. Complied by Akoroda, M.O. In: Agronomy in Nigeria, Dept. of
Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. pp 67-75.

• Akande, M. O., Oluwatoyinbo F. I., Makinde E. A., Adepoju A. S. and Adepoju I. S. (2010). Response of
Okra to Organic and Inorganic Fertilization. Nature and Science. 8(11): 261-266.

• Cobbley H. C, Leslie, S. and Steele W. M. (1976). An Introduction to the Botany of Tropical Crops. 2nd
ed., Longman Inc; New York.

• Hochmuth, G. J., Hochmuth, R. C., and Mylavarapu, R. S. (2009): Using Composted Poultry Manure In
Mulch Vegetable Production. University of Florida IFAS Extension SL 293.
REFERENCES
• Ogbonna, P. E and Obi, I. U. (2010).Variability of yield and yield components in ‘egusi’ melon. Africa Crop
Science Journal Vol. 18 (3): 107 – 113.

• Ogunremi, E. A. (1978): Effect of nitrogen on melon (Citrullus lanatus) at Ibadan, Nigeria. Expl. Agric. 14:
357-365.

• Schippers, R. R. (2000). African Indigenous Vegetable An Overview of the Cultivated Species. Chatham.
United Kingdom; National Resources Institute/ACD - EU. Technical Centre for Agro-culture and Rural
Cooperation. 214p.

• Van der Vossen, H. A. M., Denton, O. A and El Tahir, I.M.,(2004): Citrullus lanatus (Thumb) Matsum and
Nakai vegetables. Plant Resource of Tropical Africa 2 Prota Foundation/ Backhuyl Publisher / CTA
Wageningen Netherland. Pp 185-191.

• Yamaguchi M. (1983). World Vegetables: Principles, Production and Nutritive values. West port, Conn.
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