Nutritional and antioxidant profiles of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepoLinn.) immature and mature fruits as influenced by NPK fertilizer

This study evaluated the influence of NPK fertilizer on protein, fibre, ash, fat, carbohydrate, antioxidantactivities and antioxidant phenolic compounds in immature and mature fruits of pumpkin. The treatmentconsisted of six NPK levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg/ha), and was replicated six times in a random-ized complete block design (RCBD). Proximate analysis and antioxidant assays were done using standardanalytical methods. At control and lower NPK rates, the proximate compositions and antioxidant profileof pumpkin fruits decreased with increasing NPK fertilizer. Between the control and the highest fertilizerrate, proximate compositions decreased by 7–62% while the antioxidant profile decreased by 13–79% forboth immature and mature fruits. Across all the measured parameters, mature fruit had higher proximatecontents and higher antioxidant concentrations. For the high health value of pumpkin fruits to be main-tained, little or no NPK fertilizer should be applie