CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Watermelons (Citrullus vulgaris)
from the family cuecurbitaceac are thought to be native of the Kalahari Desert
in southern Africa and introduced to other parts of the world by Africans
transported as slaves. These areas have been regarded as point of
diversification to other parts of the world (schipper, 2000). Watermelon was
generally produced in some places such as China from India around the tenth centre;
it was not reported growing in the North America until the 1640s;
The production of water melon in Abakaliki
agricultural zone has brought some change of mind set in its farmers and consumers.
Two species are commonly grown in Nigeria cittrusllus lanatus and Citrullus vulgaris.
The botanical classifications of
watermelon are shown below;
Kingdom Plantae
Division Mangnollophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Family
Cucubitaceae
Genus Citrullus
Species Vulgaris
Binominal
name Citrullus vulgaris
1.1 VARIETIES OF WATERMELON
There are more than 1200 varieties
of watermelon ranging in size from less than a pound, to more than two hundred
ponds with flesh that is red, orange, yellow or white.
1.2 SOIL
REQUIREMENT
Watermelons grow best on sand loam
soils which are well drained and slightly acid. When planted on very heavy
soils and quality are generally inferior. However fine sands produce highest
quality melons when adequate fertilizer and water are provided.
1.3 PLANTING
OF WATERMELON
Planting is done by seed sowing in
the field, about 1.5 to 2kg/ha of seed is required. Row spacing varies from 1.5
to 3.0m and plant spacing from 0.75 to 1.5m.
1.4 IRRIGATION
The amount of water used to grow watermelon depends on
time of the year and soil type. However, drip irrigation enables the most
efficient use of available water.
1.5 INSECT
PESTS OF WATER MELONS
Insects pests affecting watermelon
include, Aphids gossypii Glover,
Melon Aphid, Dacus cucrbitae coguillett,
Melon fly, Liriomyza sativae
Blanchard, chrysanthemum leafminer, pycnoderes quadrimaculatus Guerinmene, Bean
Caspid, Tetranuchus neocalidonicus
Andre, Vegetable Mite, Thrips Palmi Karny, melon thrips, Trialeurodea vaporarioum (westwood) Greenhouse whit fly, beetles,
leaf miners leaf hoppers, red spider mite and cutworms.
1.6 DISEASES
OF WATERMELON
Watermelon are so much attached by
different diseases, the commonest diseases include fusarium, wilt, anthracrose,
downy wilders and virus disease others also include cercospora leaf spot, gummy stem slight, powdering wilder,
bacterial fruit blotch, damping off roots, root rots, vine declines, root knot,
nematode. They affect both the root, fruit and foliage.
1.7 PRODUCTION
IN NIGERIA
Although, there are no official
figures recorded for watermelon production in the country, the crop has a wide
distribution as a garden crop, while as a commercial vegetable production, its cultivation
is confined to the drier savanna region of Nigeria (Anon 2006) seed should be
planted approximately 1 inch deep. The amount of the seed required (usually 1
to 2 pounds per acre) depends upon seed Size, germination and plant spacing.
However, there is a dearth of information relative as to the scale of
production, yield potential and cultivation under different fertilization
states in the study area (Abakaliki). This experiment was, therefore performed
with the aim of investigating the effect of different levels of inorganic
fertilizers (Urea) on the production of the crop in Abakaliki agricultural
zone, Ebonyi state.
1.8 OBJECTIVE
OF THE STUDY
To investigate the effects of
different levels (grams) of inorganic fertilizer (Urea) on the growth and yield
of watermelon
CHAPTER TWO
1.9 MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Treatment combinations were
replicated five times on sixty blocks with twelve blocks (beds) in each
replications Factor A: six different levels (grams) of inorganic fertilizer
(Urea)
(i) 150 gram
(ii) 120 gram
(iii) 90 gram
(iv) 0 grams (control)
(v) 30 gram
(vi) 60 gram
Factor
B: comprises the two varieties;
(i) V1 = variety 1
(ii) V2 = variety 2
The
12 treatment combinations are;
120gV1
= Urea (120g) and variety 1
150gV2
= Urea (150g) and variety 2
30gV2
= Urea (30g) and variety 2
30gV1
= Urea (30g) and variety 1
60gV2
= Urea (60g) and variety 2
60gV1
= Urea (60g) and variety 1
0gV1
= Control (0g) and variety 1
150gV1
= Urea (150g) and variety 1
0gV2
= Control (0g) and variety 2
90gV1
= Urea (90g) and variety 1
90gV2
= Urea (90) and variety 2
120gV2
= Urea (120g) and variety 2
2.0 REPLICATION
AND EXPERIMENTAL
The experimental field was divided
into five replications with twelve blocks in each, given a total of sixty
blocks or plots, each measuring 3m × 3m with 0.5m between adjacent plot and 1m
between each replication. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block
design (RCBD). The treatment comprises of five different levels of urea.
The
six levels of fertilizers was
F0
– 0g/ha
F1
– 30g/ha
F2
– 60g/ha
F3
– 90g/ha
F4
– 120g/ha
F5
– 150g/ha
2.1 MATERIALS USED
Cutlass: The cutting of grasses and other weeds. The cutlass
can also be used in the cultivation of the soil.
Watering Can: For artificial application of water to the crops.
Peg: for marking out the field
Rake: for the gathering of the weeded plants for its disposal
Mulching material: Nigerian grasses for example elephant grass
Hoe: in the making of ridges
Sign post: identification of the students
Thread: for mapping the field
Weighing balance: to determine the weight of the watermelon
Record book: for recording data
Water
melon seed
2.3
FIELD LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Taking into consideration the crop to be planted. Since the crops are the climbing types the
bed was 3 by 3m was used each bed will represent one treatment combination e.g
F1V1 since there are 5 replication the total beds will be 60 beds for the
department of agricultural economics
Field layout and design
2.4 PLANTING
AND GERMINATION
The
ridges made were measured 3m by 3m with a planting space of 1m by 1m apart then
seedling were incorporated into the soil. The seedling started sprouting about
a week later.
2.5 MULCHING WEEDING
Application of foreign material on
the edge. This material could be dry grass, rice husk, polythene etc. mulching
is normally done of a number of reason
·
To prevent direct
sunlight on the crop
·
To reduce the
rate of water run off in other to avoid erosion
·
To also prevent
evaporation (excess) from the soil.
2.6 FERTILIZER
APPLICATION
The inorganic fertilizer that was
applied was urea. And the application method was ring method. Care was taken
during the application to avoid some of the fertilizer dropping the leave on the
water melon.
2.7 ANALYSIS
OF AREA
The
analysis on the area of the field farm used.
Area
of 1 Bed = 3m by 3m = 9m2
Total
number of bed = 60
Area
covered by treatment 60x9 = 540
Distance
between bed =
0.5
Recorded
distance per Rows = 11m
Number
of replication =
5
Total
distance covered = Rows = 11x5x0.5 = 27.5m
Distance
between replication = 1m
Total
number of bed covered = 12
Total
distance in column = 1x12x3 = 36
Total
area of field = 540 + 27.5736 = 604
Use
urea for both oval and round seeds (v1 v2)
Urea
was seed for both oval and roun seeds
|
Rep
1
|
Rep
2
|
Rep
3
|
Rep
4
|
Rep
5
|
|
Bed3
|
Bed1
|
Bed7
|
Bed7
|
Bed3
|
|
Bed9
|
Bed8
|
Bed9
|
Bed12
|
Bed4
|
|
*30g
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rep
1
|
Rep
2
|
Rep
3
|
Rep
4
|
Rep
5
|
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Bed7
|
Bed3
|
Bed3
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Bed6
|
Bed7
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|
Bed8
|
Bed4
|
Bed4
|
Bed8
|
Bed11
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*
60g
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rep
1
|
Rep
2
|
Rep
3
|
Rep
4
|
Rep
5
|
|
Bed60
|
Bed5
|
Bed5
|
Bed2
|
Bed60
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|
Bed10
|
Bed7
|
Bed6
|
Bed9
|
Bed9
|
|
*90g
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|
|
|
|
|
Rep
1
|
Rep
2
|
Rep
3
|
Rep
4
|
Rep
5
|
|
Bed2
|
Bed10
|
Bed10
|
Bed1
|
Bed1
|
|
Bed4
|
Bed12
|
Bed11
|
Bed10
|
Bed2
|
|
*120
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rep
1
|
Rep
2
|
Rep
3
|
Rep
4
|
Rep
5
|
|
Bed5
|
Bed6
|
Bed1
|
Bed3
|
Bed10
|
|
Bed12
|
Bed9
|
Bed12
|
Bed11
|
Bed12
|
|
*150
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Rep
1
|
Rep
2
|
Rep
3
|
Rep
4
|
Rep
5
|
|
Bed1
|
Bed2
|
Bed2
|
Bed4
|
Bed5
|
|
Bed11
|
Bed11
|
Bed8
|
Bed5
|
Bed8
|