Performance of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [L.]) as Influenced by Row Arrangement and Cowdung Rates Grown in Intercrop with Maize (Zea mays [L.]) in Sudan Savanna

Abstract

Aims: To study the performance of watermelon in maize/watermelon intercrop under varied row arrangements and cow dung rates in a Sudan Savanna area. Study Design: Field-experimental design was used in this study. Place and Duration of Study: Field trials were carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of University of Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria during the 2014 and 2015 rainy seasons. Methodology: Field trials with treatments consisting of factorial combinations of three row arrangements of maize: watermelon (1:1, 1:2 and 2:1) and five levels of cow dung rates (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20t per ha) laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times. Cow dung was assigned to the main plots while row arrangements were assigned to the sub plots. The parameters of watermelon studied were: number of fruits per plant, fruit circumference, fruit length, fruits weight per plant and fruit yield per ha. Results: The results showed that number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per ha of watermelon were significantly greater at 1:2 row arrangement than the other planting patterns used. Application of 15t cow dung per ha was found to be maximum for number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per ha of watermelon. The interaction or combination of 1:2 row arrangement and 15t cow dung per ha was optimum for fruit yield per ha of watermelon. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, 1:2 row arrangement with application of 15t cow dung per ha should be adopted for production of watermelon in maize/watermelon intercrop in the Sudan Savanna agro-ecology.