Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels on Watermelon Growth and Yield in Banadir Region, Somalia

This study evaluated the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer rates on watermelon growth and yield at the Gaheyr Campus of Somali National University. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four nitrogen treatments (0, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) and five replications. Growth measurements included plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, number of flowers, and number of branches. Yield measurements included fruits per plant, fruit length, reported fruit diameter, fruit weight, yield per plant, reported yield per plot, and reported yield per hectare. Data were analyzed using Statistix 8.0, and treatment means were compared using Fisher’s least significant difference test at P ≤ 0.05 when the overall treatment effect was significant. Nitrogen rate significantly affected plant height, leaf area, stem girth, flower number, branch number, and fruit length. Leaf number was not significant at the 5% level (P = 0.0586). Fruits per plant, reported fruit diameter, fruit weight, yield per plant, and reported yield per plot were also nonsignificant. The results indicate that nitrogen enhanced vegetative growth more consistently than yield under the conditions of this trial

Citrullus lanatus; nitrogen rate; randomized complete block design; vegetative growth; fruit yield; Somalia

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