GROWTH

The study was conducted at the screen house of the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. Four different potting media sources: Top soil (TS ), Rice husk (RS ), Poultry manure (PM ) and Oil Palm Refuse Bunch (OPRB ), were used as substrate. The objective of the study was to determine the appropriate potting medium the for the growth and yield of Fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis ) . The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Data was collected on plant height , stem girth , number of leaves ,leaf length , leaf girth, leaf area , dry weight, moisture content and herbage yield. Results obtained after six (6 )weeks showed that Potting media had significant (p < 0.05 ) effect on growth characters. Plants in top soil and Rice husk media exhibited better growth performance than poultry manure and oil palm refuse bunch. Herbage yield , dry and moisture content of fluted pumpkin were significant ( p < 0.05 ) by potting media . Plants solved in top soil had the highest herbage yield which was similar with rice husk plants . Plants in top soil , rice husk and oil palm refuse bunch had comparable values. There was no yield for poultry manure plants as the plants withered immediately after four ( 4 ) weeks after sowing . Top soil potting media is thereby suggested for fluted pumpkin growers due it's ease of availability, handling and also had 12 % herbage yield advantage over rice husk.