Response of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir.) to foliar application of micronutrients

Abstract

The study on Response of (Cucurbita moschata Poir.) pumpkin to foliar application of micronutrients was carried out at Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during September 2006 to January 2007 under field conditions. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. High yielding variety Saras developed by the Kerala Agricultural University was used for the study.

The investigation revealed that the plants treated with Fe 100ppm by foliar spray along with soil application of recommended manures and fertilizers recorded highest vine length of 4.25m. The maximum number of branches per plant (3.27) was recorded in treatment T4 which include the soil application of recommended manures and fertilizers along with foliar spray of Mo 50 ppm.

The days to first female flower (61.93) was earliest in foliar spray of Multiplex along with recommended manures and fertilizers. The treatment T4 which include the soil application of recommended manures and fertilizers along with foliar spray of Mo 50 ppm recorded minimum number of nodes to produce first female flower (21.80). The minimum sex ratio (male: female) (16.19) obtained in treatment where recommended manures and fertilizers were applied in soil.

Among different treatments studied application of recommended manures and fertilizers as per PoP along with foliar spray of Mn 100ppm resulted in minimum number of days (84.33) to first harvest of fruits. Plants treated with Mo 50 ppm and Multiplex 100ppm along with soil application of manures and fertilizers recorded highest number of fruits per plant (1.47). The mean yield per plant was highest (2.79) in treatment T4. The highest yield per plot (55.05kg) was obtained in foliar spray of B 100ppm followed by foliar spray of Mo 50 ppm. The highest value 2.01kg for average fruit weight was obtained in soil application of recommended manures and fertilizers as per PoP. Regarding the flesh thickness B100 ppm foliar spray with soil application of manures and fertilizers recorded highest value of 2.74 cm followed by 2.64 in T4. The fruits of plants treated with B 100 ppm and Zn 100 ppm along with soil application of manures and fertilizers could be stored for maximum days. For vitamin C and β-Carotene content in pumpkin fruits harvested at vegetable maturity, foliar spray of Fe100ppm along soil application of recommended manures and fertilizers recorded highest values of 3.65 mg 100g-1 and 208.25 μg g-1 respectively.

It can be concluded that foliar spray of micronutrients on pumpkin enhanced the growth, yield and quality parameters. The importance of FYM in crop production was also observed between the treatments. Among different treatments T2 and T4 was found better for yield when compared with other treatments. The treatments T6 (T1 + Iron 100 ppm) was found to be the best for quality parameters like vitamin C and β-Carotene content.