Growth Response of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis) to UREA and NPK 15:15:15 Fertigation in Uyo Local Government Area

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the growth response of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia 
occidentalis) to urea and NPK 15:15:15 fertigation in Uyo Local Government Area. This study 
adopted experimental research design of Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The 
experiment was conducted at Agricultural Education Skills Acquisition Farm in 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 were selected for the study using purposive sampling 
technique. Morphological growth parameters of vine length of fluted pumpkin were measured using 
measuring tape while number of branches was carried out by counting. 540grammes of urea and 
540gramms of NPK 15:15:15 was dissolved in 108 liters of water each and applied through 
irrigation pipes, and the same measured was applied through ring method. Data collected were 
analyzed using weighted mean for answering research questions and analysis of covariance 
(ANCOVA) for testing the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Findings indicated that fluted 
pumpkin grown with urea and NPK 15:15:15 fertigation performed better in terms of length of vine 
and number of branches than those grown by ring method of fertilizer application. There was 
significant effect of urea, NPK 15:15:15 fertigation on the length of vine and number of branches, 
with urea fertigation showing high significant difference. It was concluded that application of urea 
and NPK 15:15:15 through fertigation significantly improved the growth parameters of fluted 
pumpkin. It was recommended among others that vegetable farmers should adopt urea and NPK 
15:15:15 fertilizers applied through fertigation method to optimize the growth of fluted pumpkin 
for better yield.