EFFECT OF POULTRY MANURE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER RATE ON THE

PERFORMANCE OF MUSK MELON (Cucumis melo L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA

SAVANNA

*H. N. Kura1, M. Musa1, A. S. Isah1 and I. S. Amadu2

1
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
2
Collage of Agriculture and Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mando, Kaduna,
*
Corresponding Author, [email protected]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru during 2016
raining season to study the effect of poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer rates on productivity of Musk melon
(Cucumis melon L.) in the Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. The treatment consisted of three poultry manure
rates (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 t ha -1) and three nitrogen rates (40, 60 and 80 kg ha -1). The treatments were laid out in
Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results obtained shows that 2.5t ha-1 of
poultry manure and 60kg N ha-1 produced longer Vine Length, higher total dry matter, Brix percentage, Fruit
number per plant and Fruit yield. Thus the use of 2.5t ha -1poultry manure and 60kg N ha-1 produced the best growth
and yield of Musk melon at the study area.

Key words: Musk melon, nitrogen fertilizer, Poultry manure, productivity

Introduction

Musk melon (Cucumis melon) belongs to the family Cucubitacea. It is a species of melon that has been developed
into main cultivated varieties. These include smoothly skinned varieties such as honey dew, Crenshaw and casaba
and different netted cultivar (cantaloupe, Persian melon and Santa class melon). Musk melon is grown commercially
to a limited extent in several countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, south and Central America. The United States leads
in commercial production (Anon, 2008). Musk melons were firstly cultivated in Near East and were found growing
in areas from Turkey to China, including North West India, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan.

Ripe, chilled and sliced or cubed musk melon of any kind is eaten raw as snacks or fruit side dish or tossed with
other fruits in a salad. Musk melon is featured in several beverages especially in India, where pureed musk melon
and water combine in a simple drink touted for its numerous health benefits. Pureed musk melon is also used to
flavor sorbets and ice cream. In china, japan and Korea, kwaci and kwatji, dried salted melon seeds are sold as
snacks. The seeds also are sometimes pressed to produce melon oil and or ground into powder and taken as a natural
remedy strips of musk melon flesh and dried for fruit leather. Fewer dishes call for cooked musk melon, but winter
melon varieties with Crips cucumber or squash like flavours, are used in stews and curries or stir fried with
vegetables or other fruits. Sweeter musk melon types can be blended in to jam (Anon, 2011). Despite the
socioeconomic, cultural, agronomic and culinary importance of muskmelon, information is lacking on the cultural
background that contributes to the traditional farming system. (Schippers, 2004; Achigan-Dako et. al., 2006). It is
therefore essential to assess these challenges as it will have bearing on the contributions of melon production to
sustainable rural livelihood in the study area. Due to low nitrogen reserve in the research area, there is a need of
improving the fertility of the soil by applying poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer for musk melon production.

Using poultry Manure for Vegetable crops Fertilization, poultry manure is very high in nitrogen and also contains a
good amount of potassium and phosphorus. The high nitrogen and balanced nutrients is the reason that poultry
manure compost is the best kind of manure to use. Poultry manure when composted properly, it breaks down some
of the more powerful nutrients so that they are more usable by the plants. Poultry manure for vegetable crops
fertilizing will produce excellent soil for your muskmelons to grow bigger and healthier as such gives better yield.
1
However, nitrogen is one of the most important fertilizers and the amount of nitrogen present in savannah soils is
not enough for musk melon production, in term of its growth and development. Nitrogen is essential for plant
growth (Mosier and Syers, 2004), and a major component of chlorophyll, the compound by which plant use sunlight
energy to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide (i.e. photosynthesis). It is also a major component of amino
acid and one of the limiting factors of crop yield (Zhoa et. al., 2005). The amount of nitrogen the crop need is only
met by the nitrogenous fertilizers. The effect of nitrogen in musk melon may include formation of roots, plant
growth and development, production of green part of the crop and thus improving the development of plant body.
Nitrogen accelerates the maturity of this crop and also improves the quality of its product (fruits). Nitrogen fertilizer
prevents musk melon fruit from deterioration and also increased the crop productivity. To achieve economically
viable returns, efficient use of available resources like nitrogen is necessary to maximized yield in all seasons. There
need to use the minimum amount of nitrogen required for the maximum growth rate at any time during growing
season (Sheehy at. al., 1998). To satisfy the ever increasing need for production of muskmelon for the Nigerian
populace and the fact that muskmelon is new crop to Nigerian farmers, there is need to carry out an extensive
research to be able to optimize yields by varying the rate of poultry manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the
performance of the crop. The experiment was under taken to determine the effect of poultry manure and nitrogen on
the performance of musk melon.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) farm, Samaru Zaria (Lat. 11⁰11’N
Long. 09⁰38’E and 686m above sea level), in Northern Guinea Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria, during the
2016 rainy season. The treatments consisted of three poultry manure rates (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 tons per hectare) and
three nitrogen fertilizer rates (40, 60, and 80 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block
design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The field of 0.2 hectare was harrowed twice and ridged 75cm apart and
then divided according required number of plots. Plots of 5m length and 3m width consist of two inner rows of
5×1.5m as net plot while two outer rows of 5×1.5m served as sampling ones. Three Seeds per hole were sown on
29th, July at 75 and 30cm inter and intra row spacing respectively and later thinned down to two plants per stand at
two weeks after sowing (WAS). The poultry manure rates according to the treatment was applied after land
preparation prior to sowing at the rates of 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 t/ha. Application of nitrogen fertilizer according to
treatment rate 40, 60 and 80kg/ha was done two and six WAS at two split equal doses,

Weeds were controlled manually by hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS. Cypermethrin was applied against the incidence
of insect pests at the rate of 4L ha-1, at one week interval. Harvesting was done by hand picking when the fruits
attained physiological maturity when its turn from green to yellow colour within the net plot. Data were collected on
vine length, total dry matter, Fruit number per plant, brix percentage (%) and fruit yield. The data were subjected to
analysis of variance as described by Little and Hills (1978) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range
Test DRMT (Duncan, 1955).

Results

Table 1 shows the effect of poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer on productivity of Musk melon. It shows that
increasing poultry manure rate from 1.5 to 2.5 t ha -1 significantly resulted in longer vine while further increase did
not. Each increase in nitrogen rate successively increases the length of vine. The total dry matter (TDM) was
significantly affected by 1.5 t/ha poultry manure and was comparable to either extremes. Highest TDM was
produced at highest nitrogen rate and successively reduced as N rate was lowered. The number of fruits produced
was higher at 2.5 t/ha compared to lower rates that were statistically similar while nitrogen rate did not significantly
affect the fruit number per plant. Brix percentage was higher at higher poultry manure rate while medium nitrogen
rate of 60 kg/ha resulted in higher percentage. Successive increase in poultry manure resulted in higher fruit yield
per ha while 60 kg/ha nitrogen rate produced higher fruit yield compared to 40 and was comparable to 80 kg/ha.

Discussion

2
Plant that received 2.5 t ha-1 of poultry manure had the longer vine length, TDM, fruit number per plant, brix
percentage and fruits yield. This could probably because higher contain essential plant nutrients like N, P, K and
other micro elements which improved soil moisture availability that enhance nutrients release to the plant for better
crop productivity. This is similar to the finding of Adekiya and Ofeniyi (2002) and Ewulo et. al. (2008), who
reported that higher rate of poultry manure increase moisture availability which lead to release of more nutrients for
increased plant growth. Poultry manure also maintained soil physiological condition for plant growth and yield. This
is consistent with the reports of Lombin et al. (1992), Mangila et. al. (2007) which indicate that the poultry manure
(the richest animal manure) is essential for establishment and maintaining optimum soil physical condition for crop
establishment, but also released adequate nutrient elements for yield enhancement.

Highest nitrogen rate of 80 kg N ha-1 had promoted some of the parameters like vine length, total dry matter, and
fruit yield. This might be because nitrogen is essential for plant growth (Mosier and Syers, 2004) and is a major
component of chlorophyll for photosynthesis. It is also a major component of amino acid, one of the limiting factors
of crop yield (Zhoa et. al., 2005). To achieve economically viable returns, efficient use of available resources like
nitrogen is necessary to maximized yield in all seasons. There need to use the minimum amount of nitrogen required
for the maximum growth rate at any time during growing season (Sheehy at. al., 1998). The nitrogen requirement
for crop production has traditionally been determined from field experimentation involving different rates of
application of nitrogen fertilizer, (Muchow, 1998).

Conclusion

From the experiment it can be concluded that 2.5 t ha -1 of poultry manure and 60 kg N ha-1 may be used for higher
yield of Musk melon in the Savannah zone of Nigeria.

References

Achigan-Dako, G. E., Fagbemissi, R., Ahanchade, A. and Avohou, H. T. (2006). Agronomic evaluation of three
Egusi species (cucurbitaceae) used as food in Benin and development of a predictive model performance.
Biotechnology agron. Soc. Environ, 10 (2) 121-129.

Adekiya, A. O. and Ojeniyi, S. O. (2002). Evaluation of tomato growth and soil properties under method of
seedling bed preparation in an Alfisol in the Rainforest Zone of South West Nigeria, Bio resource
Technology 96:509-516

Anonymous, (2008): www.essentialgardenguide.com/gardenfruits(0)curbitaceaV.F

Anonymous, (2011): watering, fertilizer and caring for garden musk melon essential garden guide
(http://www.essentialgardenguide.com/gardenfruit.com/b/ ).

Duncan D. B. (1955). Multiple Range and Multiple F-Test. Biometrics 2: 1-42.

Little, T. M. and Hills, F. J. (1978). Agricultural Experimentation, Design and Analysis. John Willey and Sons. Inc.
New York. Pg 368.
Lombin, L. G., Adeputu, J. A. and Ayetada, K. A. (1999). Complementary Use of Organic Manure and
Inorganic Fertilizer in Arable crop production. Proceeding of National Organic Fertilizer saminar held in
October 2011 – 22nd at University of Ibadan, Ibadan pp. 146-162.

Mangila, E., Tabiliran, F. P., Naguit, M. R. A. and Malate, R. (2007). Effects of organic fertilizer on the yield of
water melon. Threshold 2. January – December, 2007. pp 27 – 35.

Mosier, A. R. and Syers, J. K. (2004). Nitrogen fertilizer: an essential component of increased food, feed and
fibre production, In Agriculture and the Nitrogen Cycle: Assessing the Impacts of Fertilizer Use on Food
Production and Environment A. R. Mosier, J. K. Syers and J. R. Freney, editors. SCOPE, Island press,
Washington DC 65: 3-15

Muchow, R. C., (1998). Nitrogen utilization efficiency in maize and grain sorghum. Field Crops Research, 56:
209-216.
3
Schippers, R. R. (2004). Cucurbitaceae. In: Legumes African Indigenes: Presentation of cultivated species.
Wuerzburg, Allemagne. Margrave Publishers/CTA, 113-182.

Sheehy, J. E., M. J. A. Dionora, P. L. Mitchell, S. Peng, K. G. Cassman, G. Lemaire and R. L. Williams, (1998).
Critical nitrogen concentrations: implications for high-yielding rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars in the
tropics. Field Crops Research, 59: 31-41

Zhoa, D., K. R. Reddy, V. G. Kakani and V. R. Reddy, (2005). Nitrogen deficiency effects on plant growth, leaf
photosynthesis and hyperspectral reflectance properties of sorghum. European Journal Agronomy, 22:
391-403

Table 1. Effect of poultry manure and nitrogen rates on productivity of musk melon in northern guinea
savanna of Nigeria
Fruit
Vine Total dry number Fruit
length matter per Brix0 yield
Treatment (cm) (g) plant (%) (kg ha-1)
Poultry manure (P) (t/ha)

0.5 181.6b 66.2b 3.67b 4.20 14698c

1.5 208.8a 77.8ab 4.44b 5.24 25641b

2.5 199.5a 87.1a 5.33a 5.42 39457a

SE± 4.80 4.47 0.274 0.472 1270.30

Nitrogen N (kg/ha)

40 171.7c 56.1c 4.11 4.84 20706b

60 197.6b 73.2b 4.89 5.44 27954a

80 220.6a 101.8a 4.44 4.64 28153a

SE± 4.80 4.47 0.274 0.472 1270.30

Interaction

PxN NS NS NS NS NS

Means followed by the same letter(s) in a column are not significantly difference from each other by the
Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT)