Soil chemical properties and growth performance of white seed melon (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin) influenced by combined soil amendments in Ile-Oluji, Nigeria
Field experiment was conducted to study the effects of crop residues in combination with NPK fertilizer (NPKF) on soil chemical properties and growth performance of white seed melon at Ile-Oluji, Ondo State Nigeria. The experiment involved applications of cocoa bean husk (CBH), cocoa pod husk (CPH), cocoa pod waste (CPW), kola pod husk (KPH), Tithonia diversifolia (weed much (WM) in combination with NPK 15:15:15 Fertilizer to produce twelve treatments at 4 t ha-1 CBH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CBH + 100 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPH + 100 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPW + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPW + 100 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 KPH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 KPH + 100 kg ha-1 NPKF, 2 t ha-1 WM + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 2 t ha-1 WM + 100 kg ha-1 NPKF, 300 kg ha-1 NPKF and control, all the amendments tested significantly improved soil chemical properties and growth performance of white seed melon relative to control. Three cocoa plants residues in combination with NPKF at reduced rates 4 t ha CBH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPW + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF and 4 t ha-1 CPH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF respectively significantly (p < 0.05) improved soil pH, organic matter (OM), available P, exchangeable k, Ca and Mg, Na, Fe, Al and ECEC among the amendments tested. All treatments increased number of leaf, branches and vine length of white seed melon compared to control. 4 t ha-1 CBH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPW + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, 4 t ha-1 CPH + 200 kg ha-1 NPKF, had highest value of crop branches.