TABLE
OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE
Dedication i
Preface ii
Acknowledgement iii
Abstract iv
CHAPTER
ONE
Introduction
1
Origin of watermelon and scientific
classification of watermelon 2
Varieties
and uses/important of watermelon 3
Climate
requirement, soil requirement,
cultural
practices 4-5
CHAPTER TWO
Materials and method 6
Field
layout 7
Fertilizer
Application 8
CHAPTER THREE
Percentage
germination 9
Bar
chart and pie chart 10
Analysis of
vegetative parameters at (3) three weeks after planting number of leaves, vine
length and number of vine -----------------11
Analysis
of vegetative parameters at 6 weeks after plantings i.e
Number
of leaving number of vines and vine length-------------------12
Analysis of
vegetative parameters at Nine (9) weeks after planting number of leaves number
of vine and vine and leng--------------54-66
YIELD PARAMETER
Analysis
of number of marketable pod-------------------------------76-74
Analysis
of non-marketable pods-------------------------------------75-79
Analysis
of weight of pods--------------------------------------------83-95
Economic
analysis --------------------------------------------------96-97
CHAPTER FOUR
Results and discussion
CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusion
and Recommendation--------------------98
Reference-----------------------------------------------99
INTRODUCTION
This
practical work was carried out to determine the effect of organic fertilizer
and mulching material on watermelon, also their effects on the growth potential
of watermelon and like wise found out the most suitable type of organic fertilizer
and mulching material to be used in the production of watermelon.
Though
different organic fertilizer like, poultry manures, swine doung and cow doungs
and different mulching materials like sawdust, rise hush and zero mulching where
used.
It
is also very important to note that watermelon is a fruit and vegetable crops
which are very prone to insect pest infestation and as a result, demand
extremely care and most improved control measures to ensure optimum performance
of these crop.
ORIGIN OF WATERMELON
Watermelon
originated from Southern Africa occurring
naturally in South Africa,
Namibia,
Botswana,
Zimbabwe,
Mozambique,
Zambia
and Malawi
However,
watermelon is thought to have been domesticated atleast 4,000 years ago.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION OF WATERMELON
Kingdom
- plantae
Division
- magnoliophyta
Class - magnoliopsida
Order
- cucurbitales
Family
- cucurbitaceae
Genus
- citrullus
Species
- C. lanatus
VARIETIES OF WATERMELON
The following are
some verities of watermelon:
1. Fair far – watermelon that are oblong and
have a striped, and tough rind. The bright red flesh is very sweet excellent taste.
2. Jubilee – these are long oval shaped
watermelon with very tasty flesh that is deep red and very crisp.
3. Golden midget watermelon these are an
outstanding little watermelon with golden yellow ring and salmon pink flesh and
pleasantly sweet
4. Tom Watson watermelon: this is a variety
that was very popular with home gardeners as well as market growers. The fruit
is large with sweet, crisp dark-red flesh.
5. Crimson sweet watermelon this is one of
the very finest heirloom varieties of watermelon with an oblong shape has a sweet
flesh that is brilliant and small seeds.
USES/IMPORTANT OF WATERMELON
1. It is a good source of vitamins A and C
and provides potassium and fibre.
2. It contains high level of lycopene – an
antioxidant that may help the body fight cancer and prevent disease.
3. It can be used to treat anemia/calculi
formation
4. It contains lot of potassium, which is
helpful in cleaning the toxic depositions in the kidney
5. The potassium and magnesium in the
watermelon helps in reducing the high blood pressure to normal ones
CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS OF WATERMELON
Watermelon prefers
a hot, dry climate with mean daily temperature of 22 to 30oc the
crop is very sensitive to frost
It thrives well at
the maximum and minimum temperature of about 35 – 18oc respectively.
SOIL REQUIREMENT OF WATERMELON
Watermelons
grow best on soil that hold water well and have good air and water infiltration
rates
Soil should have a
PH of 6 to 7
CULTURAL PRACTICES OF WATERMELON PLANTING:
Planting spacing requirement
vary depending on variety selection,
growing area, time of planting, and soil type which you must make sure that the
soil is healthy and warm.
VARIETIES:–
Varieties of
watermelon you plant is very important to
be considered depending on the type of soil and growing. Watermelon can be
complicated too, not only because there are three basic types normal, hybrid,
and seedless triploid, each type needs a different culture.
IRRIGATION:–
Watermelon vines
appreciate sufficient water but over watering can be a problem if the vines are
not growing on fast draining sand/soils.
MULCHING:-
Is also very important
to help in heating the soil and also retaining the water.
FLOWER TYPES BEES:–
It is good to grow
watermelon on where there are abundant wild pollinators, others regularly rent
beehives for the pollination period
FERTILIZER:–
This is also good in
order to boost the growth and yield of the
watermelon.
PEST CONTROL:–
It is good to note
that in general, the better the soil drainage and the drier the environment,
the better the possibility that a vigorously growing watermelon crop won’t be
seriously affected by a pest problem.
HARVEST:–
Timing the
harvesting of a crop of watermelon can be assisted greatly by testing the sugar
level in some sample watermelon with the use of hand
Watermelon
harvested at an immature stage may develop a much redder color after harvest
but the sugar level will never rise after harvest.
REFERENCE
Armstneng
W.P 1999 Watermelon snow: a strange phenomenon cause by Algal cells of the
chlorophyta Wayne’s
word noteworthy plants August 1998-(24 April 2006).
William
E., Williams, Holly L. Gerton, and Thoms C. Vogelman (January 21, 2013).
Regional
statistics New south Wale.
Australian
Bureau of statistics 2004, Retrieved 2009/2004/19
Port
Macquarie New south Male, electoral commission 2008. Retrieved 19/04/2009.
Lord
Home Island Community thriving online-community geographic domain names.
THE EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER AND
ORGANIC MULCH ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF WATERMELON (Citrullus lanatus)
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
PRODUCTION COST OF WATERMELON
|
S/N
|
Activities
|
Quantity
|
Amount
|
|
1
|
Clearing (grass)
|
-
|
125
|
|
2
|
Cultivation
|
One bed
|
237.50
|
|
3
|
Organic manure
|
10kg each
|
84
|
|
4
|
Zap
|
1
|
50
|
|
5
|
watermelon
|
32 seeds
|
93.75
|
|
|
seeds
|
|
|
SALES ACCOUNT OF MARKETABLE POD
|
S/N
|
Item
|
Quantity
|
Weight
|
Amount
|
Total
Amount
|
|
|
Watermelon ponds
|
6
|
9.0
|
200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic
return can be calculated using GM=TR-TVC, where
GM=
Gross (profit) Margin TR= total revenue, TVC= Total
Variable
cost
But
TVC= N590.25
TR= N1,200
GN=1,200-N590.25
=609.75k for one plot
In 3m x3m bed, N609.75 was
generated, which is equivalent to N
809.75,000 in par hectare. 609.75x10,000
= 3rn x 3m (9m2) =N609. 75
Iha ( 100000m2), = 10,0000m2 x 609. 75
GM
per hectare = 609.7500