ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted at the Department of crop science, Faculty of AgricultureExperimentFarm,UniversityofBenin,BeninCity,Nigeriaina2x3Factorial arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design RCBD. The treatments consisted of two plants per stand; 1 and 2 plants and threelevels of fertilizer application rates: control, 20t/ha of poultry manure and 400kg/ha of NPK 15:15:15. Growth parameters measured were plant height, leaf area, number of leaves and stem diameter. Herbage yield was determined at harvest. The results revealed no significant interactions between the number of plants per stands and fertilizer rates on the growth and yield of fluted pumpkin. Increasing the number of plants per stand from 1 to 2 did not enhance plant height, leaf area and herbage yield. However, FertilizerapplicationofNPK15:15:15at400kg/hasignificantlyincreasetheleaf area. Although fertilizer application did not significantly influence the herbage yield, it is recommended that 400kg/ha NPK15:15:15 should be used as it enhanced the leaf area of fluted pumpkin at eight weeks after planting.