Influence of Poultry and Goat Manures on Some Selected Soil Chemical Properties, Growth and Yeild of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis)

A field experiment was conducted during the 2021 cropping season at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Cross River State, Obubra Campus to study the effects of poultry and goat manure on selected soil chemical properties, growth and yield of fluted pumpkin Telfaria occidentalis was conducted in University of Cross River, Agronomy Department, Teaching and Research Farm, Obubra, Cross River State in 2021 cropping season. The experiment was three poultry manure rates (0, 3 and 6 t/ha) and goat manures rates (0, 3 and 6 t/ha) factorial with nine treatment combinations laid out in Complete randomized block design (CRBD) replicated three times. Data collected on growth and yield parameters were statistically analyzed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure. Results shows that either poultry or goat manure increased growth yield of Telfaria occidentalis and improved some soil chemical properties. The combined use of both (poultry and goat) manures at 3 t/ha produced plants with longest main vines length, highest number of leaves, fresh and dry matter yield per hectare and gave higher soil chemical properties (soil organic matter) 4.27, soil reaction (pH)(5.93), Available P(8.25 mg/kg), Exchangeable K(0.34 Cmol/kg), Exchangeable Mg (3.23 Cmol/kg) and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)(8.24 Cmol/kg) than the initial soil nutrient values obtained before the commencement of this experiment. The trial shows that 3t/ha of combined poultry and goat manure is appropriate for increased soil nutrients, growth and yield of Telferia occidentalis in this locality and therefore very strongly recommended.