GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis Hook, F.) AS INFLUNCED BY THE APPLICATION OF RABBIT URINE AND RABBIT DROPPINGS

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the growth and yield response of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia  occidentalis Hook, F.) as influenced by different rates of rabbit urine and droppings at the Federal College of Forestry, Jericho, Ibadan, Nigeria. The treatments consisted of four levels of rabbit urine (10, 20, 30 and 40 Ml per 10 kg soil), four levels of rabbit droppings (10, 20, 30 and 40 g per 10 kg soil) and a control. These were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replicates. Data were collected on number of leaves, plant height, stem girth, number of nodes and leaf area, the parameters were measured weekly for ten weeks. It was shown from the results that, the rabbit urine significantly enhanced all growth parameters compared to rabbit droppings and the control. Highest number of leaves 95.00, plant height of 111.00 cm², stem girth of 4.15 cm, number of nodes of 31.25 and leaf area of 344.70 cm² after 10 weeks of planting with the application of 40 mL of rabbit urine. The study also showed that, rabbit droppings improved growth relative to the control but rabbit urine performed better. The findings indicated that rabbit urine, particularly at 40 mL per 10 kg soil, is highly effective organic fertilizer for fluted pumpkin production.