EFFECT OF DIFFERENT STAKING METHODS AND SEED PLACEMENT ON THE GROWTH AND HERBAGE YIELD OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis, Hook F.)

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, from January 2024 to April 2024 to study the effect of different staking method and seed placement on the growth and herbage yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.). The experiment was laid out as a 3x4 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The treatments consisted of three staking methods: S0 (no staking), Ss (single staking) and St (trellis staking), and four-seed placement method, Pf (flat), Pu (upward), Ps (slant) and Pd (downward). The result showed that there was no significant difference on the different staking methods and seed placement on the vegetative parameters measured. However, there was significant interaction on the staking method and seed placement. The trellis staking with upward seed placement produced the highest herbage freed yield (9.66 t/ha) and should be recommended to farmers in this locality.