Statistical Appraisal of the Yield Performance of Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) in Kazaure Hinterland in Response to Crop Variety and Fertilization Nature

Abstract

The study was aimed at identifying the ideal water melon crop variety to grow and the treatment combination to adopt for a bumper harvest in Kazaure hinterland. To achieve this, ten different watermelon crop varieties were planted and treated with five different fertilizers on a farmland specifically prepared for the study. The preparation was done in such a way that fifty experimental units were replicated fifty times in each of the fifty pots prepared based on factorial design scheme. The factors of interest were crop variety and fertilizer type. The experimental units were allowed to germinate for eight weeks. Number of leaves, vine length and chlorophyll content were measured from the germinated units. The data was analysed using two-way MANOVA, one-way ANOVA and other relevant statistical techniques. The results from the analysis revealed that the yield parameters significantly differ from one crop variety to another as well as from one type of fertilizer to another. Further investigations using separate one-way ANOVA son vine length, chlorophyll content, and number of leaves revealed that the ten-crop type have significant different effect on these parameters. The same technique revealed a significant different in impact between the types of fertilizer on the same parameters when considered separately. Differentiating the level of the factors, post-hoc test indicated that Sweet Polly, Traveler, and Captivation significantly increased the yield parameters than Bijou, King Man, SV0258WAT, Cut Above, Citation, Harvest Moon, and Triple Treat, while the rest did not differ significantly between themselves. The test also showed that Farmyard Manure, Poultry Drop, and Cow Dung performed significantly better than Urea and NPK 15 15 15 as levels of fertilizer-type experimental factor. The study thus encourages growing Sweet Polly, Traveler, and Captivation and be treated with Farmyard Manure, Poultry Drop, and Cow Dung for a bumper harvest in this part of the world.