Effects of Sole and Combined Applications of Organic Manures and Urea on Soil Properties and Yield of Fluted Pumpkin (telfairia Occidentalis, Hook F.

Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Calabar to compare the effects of sole and combined use of organic manure and urea on soil properties and yield of fluted pumpkin during 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons. There were seven treatments consisting of sole and the combinations of organic manures and urea with a rate of 100 kg N/ha, regarded as full dose (i.e. 100 % sole applied urea, pig manure, poultry manure, 50 % combination of urea with 50 % of either of the organic manures, 50 % urea with 25 % of each of the organic manures and control ). They were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the application of the amendments significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil chemical properties (soil pH, total N, organic carbon, available phosphorus, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, ECEC and base saturation)with the combined application of 50 % urea with 25 % of each of the organic manures giving the highest value for most of the parameters determined. The 50 % urea with 25 % of each of the organic manures significantly reduced soil acidity from a very strongly acid level of 4.10 (initial value before experiment )to 5.16, increased total N from 0.9 g/kg to 1.08 g/kg, increased organic carbon from 11.6 g/kg to 15.8 g/kg, increased available phosphorus from 40.50 mg/kg to 70.20 mg/kg. The fresh yield of fluted pumpkin was significantly (P < 0.05 )increased across all stages of growth as a result of the amendments applied when compared with the control. The highest yield of 6178 kg/ha at 9 weeks after planting (WAP )was obtained from the combination of 50 % urea with 25 % of each of the organic manures. The use of urea in combination with poultry and pig manures, where available, or with either of the organic manures is recommended for yield and soil fertility improvements in the study area.