Full Length Research Paper
* 1Opara, E U., 2 Ikoro, A.I.,
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in the University teaching and train field of Michael Okpara University farm to determine the effect of some soil treatments on wilt disease and to investigate the productivity of Citrillus lanatus under different soil amendments. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six (oil palm bunch ash, saw dust ash, kitchen wood ash, termite mound, control and poultry dropping) with three replicates. The results obtained showed that all the amendments exhibited positive anti pathogenic effect against wilt disease of Citrullus lanatus. Among the treatments found effective, include poultry droppings which had the best performance on most parameters tested and significantly at (P< 0.05) and produced the highest number of leaves (46.37), had the highest number of branches (2.58). However, in terms of disease incidence, oil palm bunch ash, saw dust ash, kitchen wood ash (16.70) recorded the least followed by termite mount, poultry droppings(22.2) while data on disease severity saw dust ash and kitchen ash (1.00) have the least. Based on the result of this trial and considering the potency of these organic amendments attention should be paid the use of organic soil treatments by farmers, such as with poultry droppings, kitchen ash, saw dust ash or with oil palm bunch ash for combine aims of wilt disease management and for improved production of Citrillus lanatus.