HYDROPONICS SYSTEM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SOIL FARMING OF WATERMELON IN NIGERIA

Main Article Content

C. O. Ossai
S. A. Ojobor
S. C. Akpeji
O. E. Oroghe
S. Ogbole

Abstract

Watermelon is an important vegetable consumed worldwide. It is mostly grown in a sandy loam soil with a pH value ranging from 6.5 to 7.5. However, due to the constraints in land accessibility coupled to the farmers-herders clashes for limited land resources in Nigeria, it is important to shift the focus from land extensification to intensification farming. This study therefore compares the potential of hydroponics system of cultivating watermelon relative to conventional soil farming system. Three varieties of water melon (Diamond black, Crimson sweet and Travelers watermelon varieties) were planted in 2 substrate conditions (soil and cocopeat) 4 kg each. It was a 3x2 factorial experiment arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Data were collected on the agronomic and yield parameters, and analysed using ANOVA, and means were separated using LSD at 5% level of significance. Results obtained showed varied agronomic performances among the genotypes, while the Crimson sweet watermelon produced significantly heavier fruit size (5.38±0.34) compared to the rest genotype. However, the highest number of fruits (2.33±0.22) was obtained in the soil, but the substrate type was insignificant in the average fruit weight. Hence, the hydroponics system is recommended as a complementary alternative to soil farming.

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How to Cite
Ossai, C. O. ., Ojobor, S. A., Akpeji, S. C., Oroghe, O. E., & Ogbole, . S. (2021). HYDROPONICS SYSTEM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SOIL FARMING OF WATERMELON IN NIGERIA. American International Journal of Agricultural Studies, 5(1), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.46545/aijas.v5i1.200
Section
Original Articles/Review Articles/Case Reports/Short Communications
Author Biographies

C. O. Ossai, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria

Research Supervisor

YIIFSWA Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria

S. A. Ojobor, Delta State University, Nigeria

Senior Lecturer

Department of Agronomy, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

S. C. Akpeji, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Graduate Student

 Microbiology Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

O. E. Oroghe, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Graduate Student

Crop Protection and Environmental Biology Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

S. Ogbole, Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria

Graduate Student

Biochemistry Department, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

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