| EC Enujeke*
Department of Agronomy, Delta State University, Asaba Campus
Abstrsact
Field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons in the Teaching and Research Farm of Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria to assess some growth and yield indices of six varieties of watermelon (Sugar baby, Charleston gray, Crimson sweet, Green gold, Jubilee, and Ice box) in Asaba area of Delta State, Nigeria. The experiments were carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Four parameters were assessed to achieve the objectives of the study-vine length, number of leaves/plant, number of branches /plant, and weight of fruits at 75 days after sowing. The results of the two-year evaluation indicated that Sugar baby variety was superior at 4, 6, and 8 weeks in the parameters tested with mean vine length of 63.4 cm, 133.1 cm, and 181.1 cm, respectively; mean number of leaves/plant of 30.5, 33.5 and 40.4 respectively; mean number of branches/plant of 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0, respectively; and mean weight of fruits of 1315.43 t ha-1 at 75 days after sowing in 2011 and 2012. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that farmers in the study area grow Sugar baby variety for increased growth and yield of watermelon.
Key words:Asaba, Growth and yield indices, Nigeria, Varieties of watermelon
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