Effect of direct planting and transplanting and use of organic manures on growth and yield fluted pumpkin leaves (telfairiaOccidentalis) grown in Makurdi, Benue state. Nigeria

<p><strong><span>Abstract</span></strong></p> <p><em><span>The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research farm of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Makurdi (6° 11’-7° 41’N Latitude and 7° 21’ - 8° 37’E Longitude). The experiment aimed to investigate the effect of direct planting and transplanting and use of organic manures on growth and yield fluted pumpkin leaves (Telfairia occidentalis) grown in Makurdi, Benue state Nigeria. The experiment is laid in a complete randomized design with three replications. The treatments used are organic nutrient source and planting methods), the experiment was conducted during the 2024 rainy season. A 4m2 plot was laid out with 1m between plots and 0.5m between blocks. Two factors were considered thus 3x2x3; there were 6 plots each within a block which gave the total number of 18 plots for the study. During the research, growth characters such as vine length, number of leaves, number of branches and leaf area were measured. Significant difference (P≤0.05) was recorded. The use of poultry manure was also observed to produce significantly (P≤0.05) produced taller plant (162.31), higher number of leaves (23.61), higher number of branches (10.31 and higher leaf area (109.23) and the use of transplanting methods had taller plant (146.12), lower number of leaves (21.31), higher number of branches (10.47) and higher leaf area (107.41). Based on the result obtained from this research, farmers are therefore advice to transplant their pumpkin and use poultry manure as source of nutrients for optimal growth in the study area.</span></em></p> <p><strong><span>Keywords:</span></strong><em><span> Direct planting, Transplanting, Poultry manure, Cow dung, Fluted pumpkin.</span></em></p>