Effect of Charcoal and Seedling Depth on Soil Properties and Melon Yield Components (Cucumis melo) in Poro, Côte d'Ivoire

The combined effect of charcoal amendment and seeding depth was tested on soil properties and yield components of melon (Cucumis melo) at the botanical garden of the Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University of Korhogo. With the exception of the control plot, 6 kg of charcoal were applied by hand on ridges of 2.25 m2 in the first 10 cm of soil one month before sowing. The seeds were sown manually at 0.5 cm (control depth); 3 cm; 7 cm and 9 cm deep. The results showed that the application of charcoal significantly increased germination rate ((P˂ 0.002), growth (P ˂ 0.0001) and fruit yield (p = 0.0001). The combined effect of charcoal input and sowing depth was noticeable from the 47th day after sowing (P = 0.0001), the greatest values having been observed at a depth of 9 cm Correlated to the growth of the plants, the best fruit yields were obtained from the depths 9 cm with an average of 4 fruits per plant.