EFFECT OF PLANTING DENSITY AND TIME OF PRUNING ON THE PRODUCTION OF OILSEED CITRULLUS LANATUS.

Improvement of traditional system of crops is an important step to face food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus for sustainable production of oilseed Citrullus lanatus((Thumb.)Matsum.&Nakai) a study was undertakento investigate the effect of pruning time and planting density on yield and its components in 2015 and 2016 at Gbokora (Ivory Coast). Three times of pruning (early, late and control) and two plants densities (low and high) were tested in a 3x2 factorial, laid out in randomized complete three block design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated three times and the data collected were: vine length, days to first male flowering, days to first female flowering, number of fruit per plant, weight of fruit per plant, number of seeds per fruit, seeds weight per fruit; and 100-seeds weight per fruit and seed yield. Statistical analysis indicated that both factors (time of pruning and planting density) influenced significantly (P<0.05) seed yield and most of the yield components. These results showed that early pruning increased seed yield than late pruning and non-pruning. Regarding the second factors both planting densities recorded the highest value of seed yield. However, interaction between time of pruning and planting density indicated that early pruning with low densityrecorded the best value of seed yield.