Impact of Soil Salinity on the Yield of Two Butternut Squash (Cucurbita Moschata L. Mellonia) Varieties in Mwea, Kenya

Author(s): Nyambura M, Gathaara M, Menge D, Wanjogu R

Eighty percent of Kenya’s land is covered by the arid and semiarid areas that are prone to salinity. Salinity occurs due to natural and anthropogenic actions. Farmers in these arid and semi-arid areas are adopting growth of alternative crops and plants that do well in moderate conditions of salinity. Due to the growing importance of butternut squash farming in Kenya, this study was to examine the impact of salinity on yield of two butternut squash varieties, Waltham butternut (Waltham) and Jupiter F1 hybrid (Jupiter). The two butternut varieties were subjected to five NaCl concentrations i.e. 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM resulting in ten treatments. These were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. A net plot was established from which the following data were recorded; fruit number per plant, fruits weight, shoots and roots fresh and dry weight. The data were subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using least significant difference (LSD) at 5 percent level. The number of fruits per plant, weight of fruits per plot, shoot and root fresh and dry weights decreased significantly with an increase in NaCl concentration in Waltham and Jupiter. Sodium chloride concentration above 75 Mm severely affected the yield of Waltham and Jupiter however, the effect was less on Jupiter hence it is more salt tolerant. Farmers in areas where salinity is endemic are therefore recommended to adopt growing Jupiter as this would boost butternut production and hence income of the farmers.