Effect of NPK basal fertilizer, nitrogen top dressing and season on growth and yield of Cucurbita argyrosperma
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Date
2017
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University of Zululand
Abstract
Cucurbita argyrosperma is grown for its edible shoots, flowers, immature and mature fruits as well as seeds, which provide proteins, vitamins, edible oils and minerals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NPK basal fertilizer, nitrogen top dressing and seasonal variation on the agronomic traits of C. argyrosperma. Plants were grown at 0; 150; 300 and 450 kg ha-1 NPK basal fertilizer and 0; 150 and 300 kg ha-1 nitrogen top dressing during warm and cold seasons. The application of 300 kg ha-1 NPK and 300 kg ha-1 N resulted in longer vines and larger fruit size. Thicker stems, heavier fresh shoots and roots, vigorously growing first, second and third leaves from the apex, were recorded after an application of 450 kg ha-1 NPK and 300 kg ha-1 N. In the presence of NPK, any addition of nitrogen resulted in numerous leaves with more chlorophyll content. The application of 150 NPK and 300 N resulted in higher root moisture content and more staminate flowers. Numerous pistillate flowers were recorded at a combination of 450 kg ha-1 NPK and 150 kg ha-1 N fertilizers. However, 100 seed mass was not affected by the application of either NPK or nitrogen top dressing. In the warm season plants had thicker stems; numerous leaves; fast-growing first and second leaves from the apex; higher total chlorophyll content as well as heavier fresh and dry shoots and roots. Plants in the warm season (23° – 33°) also produced numerous staminate flowers; many fruits per plant with larger sizes; numerous and heavier seeds per fruit; and heavier hundred seed mass. Plants grown during cold season (16° – 25°) had their third leaf from the apex growing faster, as well as higher shoot and root moisture content. Season did not affect shoot growth as well as the number of pistillate flowers. A positive definition with PCA and significant positive correlation of all measured agronomic traits except shoot and root moisture content show them as proper traits to measure growth and yield in C. argyrosperma. Cluster analysis showed that the application of 300 and 450 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer at varying nitrogen top dressing concentrations during warm and cold seasons, respectively, can promote growth and yield of C. argyrosperma.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science and Agriculture in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Of Science in the Department of Botany at the University Of Zululand, 2017
Keywords
Cucurbita argyrosperma --NPK nasal fertiliser --nitrogen --growth --yield