Effect of water stress at different phenological stages of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L)

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in 2011 and 2012 dry seasons to study the effect of water stress at different phenological stages of muskmelon. Results revealed that watering intervals of every six days significantly influenced number of leaves, number of branches and days to 50% flowering.During flowering phase, the plots that were watered in every six and nine days flowered late while early flowering were recorded by plots that were watered once a day and every three days. The higest yield of muskmelon was observed in irrigation intervals of six days.Also watering frequency of six days intervals had maximum net income, closely followed by nine days intervals. It can be inferred that watering frequency of every six days intervals significantly affected both growth and yield characters of the crop studied at different phenological stages and it could be recommended for growing the crop in the study area.