EFFECT OF UREA AND NPK 15:15:15 FERTIGATION ON PERFORMANCE OF LEAF YIELD OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis) IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of urea and NPK 15:15:15 fertigation on the performance of leaf yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) in Uyo Local Government Area. This study adopted a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Education Skills Acquisition Farm of the University of Uyo. The population consists of 144 fluted pumpkin seeds of Telfairia occidentalis Hook F. The sample size of 108 fluted pumpkin plants was selected for the study using a purposive sampling technique. The number of leaves of fluted pumpkin was counted while fresh leaf weight was measured using an Electronic Compact Scale. 540 grammes of urea and 540 grams of NPK 15:15:15 were dissolved in 108 liters of water each and applied through irrigation pipes, and the same was also measured and applied through the ring method. Data collected were analyzed using weighted mean for answering research questions and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for testing the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings indicated that fluted pumpkin grown with urea and NPK 15:15:15 fertigation performed better in terms of number of leaves and fresh leaf weight than those grown by the ring method of fertilizer application. Also, there was a significant effect of urea, NPK 15:15:15 fertigation on the number of leaves and fresh leaf weight, with urea fertigation showing a highly significant difference. It was concluded that the application of urea and NPK 15:15:15 through fertigation significantly improved the yield parameters of fluted pumpkin. It was recommended that vegetable farmers should adopt urea and NPK 15:15:15 fertilizers applied through the fertigation method to optimize the yield of fluted pumpkin.