Ayodele, O.J. and Shittu, O.S.
Seed and seed-oil yield of melon (egusi), relevant to farmers’ economic well-being and poverty alleviation, were significantly increased by phosphorus (P) fertilizer application in trials conducted at Ado Ekiti, Nigeria during the early and late seasons of 2008 and 2009. The optimum application rate was 20 kg P.ha-1 which increased the two-year average seed yield, oil content and seed-oil yield over the control (0 kg P.ha-1) treatment by 65.6, 23.0 and 126.2%, respectively. Cost-benefit analysis of seed yield and seed-oil yield responses to P application gave highest Value-Cost ratio (VCR) at 20 kg P.ha-1 in 2008 and at 10 kg P.ha-1 in 2009 as rising costs at higher rates reduced the profit margins. VCR reduced at the unsubsidized prices of the single superphosphate fertilizer for each P rate which justifies the retention of fertilizer subsidy for egusi production. The 40kg P.ha-1 rate gave highest seedoil yield but profit was maximized at the 20kg P.ha-1 which should be recommended as the economic rate for melon (egusi) production.
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