APPLIED POULTRY

This study evaluated the effectiveness of poultry manure (PM) as a low-cost soil amendment for improving growth and yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) on nutrient-depleted soil. The study was carried out in 2025 at the Experimental Field of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. This experiment was laid out on a Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four different treatments and three replicates. The treatment rates were control(0), 5tonnes, 10tonnes and 15tonnes/ha. The treatments were four levels of poultry manure; control(0) 5tonnes, 10tonnes and 15tonnes/ha. The plant parameters measured were; vine length, number of leaves and stem girth. The growth parameters were recorded 4 WAP, 6 WAP and 8 weeks after planting, while soil properties (pH, organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable K) were taken before planting. The initial experiment showed the pH of the soil was moderately acidic (5.45), the textural class before the experiment was sand and low in total nitrogen ( 0.35g) indicating generally low fertility. The least value of Number of leaf was recorded in control plot ( 32.3 leaves) at 4 WAP which
was lower than the rest treatment levels at different weeks observed, while the highest value of number of leaves was recorded in soil treated with 15tonnes poultry manure ( 322 leaves) at 8 WAP and was significantly higher to other weeks observed in each treatment. The control plots recorded the lowest vine length value of 103.3cm at 4 WAP for fluted pumpkin. While the highest vine length was recorded at 15tonnes 388.7cm at 8 WAP. This means, application of poultry manure significantly (P>0.05) enhanced growth performance of fluted pumpkin on the degraded soil and application of 15 tonnes poultry manure had significant (P>0.05) increased the yield of Telfairia occidentalis. Therefore,15 tonnes poultry manure application significantly (P>0.05) increased the growth and marketable leaf yield ofTelfairia occidentalis.