Response of colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis L.) to different levels of nitrogen and spacing grown on desert soils of Jaisalmer

Abstract

The effect of intra row plant spacing and nitrogen nutrition on the growth and yield of colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) was examined in a field trial during kharif of 2005 and 2006 under rainfed condition. The experiment was conducted with four levels of spacing (50, 75, 100 and 150 cm) and four levels of nitrogen (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha) in split plot design with three replications. Successive increase in the plant spacing from 50 to 150 cm increased physiological growth and dry matter accumulation of plant at all the phenological stages of colocynth. The maximum yield of total plant dry matter, dry fruits, seeds and oil per hectare however was recorded with 75 cm plant spacing. The increase in nitrogen levels up to 40 kg/ha recorded maximum growth and yield of colocynth. Plant dry matter per hectare increased from 1,388 to 2,251 kg, dry fruit yield from 590 to 1,256 seed yield from 264 to 509 and oil yield from 71 to 128 kg with application of 40 kg N/ha over control.