Sowing Dates and Fertilizer Application on Growth and Yield of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) at Ado-Ekiti

Information on some agronomic practices are required for muskmelon production as there is no record of its production in Ado-Ekiti. A field study of 3 x 2 factorial experiment of sowing dates (January, May and September) and NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer application (0 and 333 kg ha-1) was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design in three replicates at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Data collected on the number of leaves and branches, leaf area, vine length, day to flowering, 50% flowering, number of fruit, fruit size and yield were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means separated by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at 5% probability. Dates of sowing did not significantly influence growth but muskmelon planted in May gave a higher number of leaves plant-1, leaf area and vine length. Fertilized plants produced better growth and earlier flowering than unfertilized plants. The number of fruits ha-1, average fruit weight and fruit yield ha-1 of 11606, 0.78 kg and 9.09 t ha-1 respectively were produced by fertilized plants which were significantly higher than 10036.70, 0.28 kg and 2.44 t ha-1 from unfertilized plants. Muskmelon planted in September produced a higher number of fruits and fruit yield of 12418 and 11.29 t ha-1 while muskmelon planted in May produced higher fruit weight (0.94 kg) but these did not differ significantly from other sowing dates. Planting muskmelon under the rain-fed condition with adequate fertilizer application gave better performance and is thereby recommended for muskmelon production in Ado-Ekiti.