TY  - JOUR
T1  - Phosphorus Fertilizer use in Melon (<I>Egusi</I>) Seed Production: Effects on Yield, Oil and Protein Content and Nutrient Composition
AU - , O.J.Ayodele AU - , S.O. Omotoso AU - , C.O. Akinrinsola 
JO  - Agricultural Journal
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
SP  - 216
EP  - 220
PY  - 2006
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1816-9155
DO  - aj.2006.216.220
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=aj.2006.216.220
KW  - Alfisols
KW  -melon (Egusi)
KW  -phosphorus
KW  -seed
KW  -protein
KW  -oil
KW  -nutrients
AB  - Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of P application on egusi grown in two Alfisols soils at Ibadan in the subhumid zone of South-Western Nigeria. There were five P treatments (0, 10, 0, 0, 40 kg P.ha <SUP>1</SUP>), applied as single superphosphate (SSP, 18% P<SUB>2</SUB>0<SUB>5</SUB>).  The treatments were replicated four times and arranged in a randomized complete block design. The result indicated that fruit and seed (egusi) yields increased significantly (p&gt;0.05), 0 kgP.ha <SUP>1</SUP> produced highest yield in 1999 and did not differ from higher rates up to 40 kgP.ha<SUP>-1</SUP> in 2000.  Seed yield increased in relation to the significant improvement in fruit number plant <SUP>1</SUP>, average fruit size and weight. Yield components, leaf N, P, K and S, seed P and S, oil and protein content increased significantly with P application whereas leaf and seed Ca level declined. The substantial increases in seed yield, oil yield and protein content justify the recommendation of 16-20  kgP.ha <SUP>1</SUP> for optimum egusi seed production.
ER  -