Effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and quality attributes of hull-less seeded pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca)

Monika

Effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and quality attributes of hull-less seeded pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca)

Date

2023

Authors

Monika

Publisher

Punjab Agricultural University

Abstract

The present investigation entitled „Effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and quality attributes of hull-less seeded pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca)‟ was carried out at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during spring season 2021 and 2022. The experiment was laid down in Randomized complete block design with thirteen treatments viz., T1 control (water spray), T2 (ZnSO4 @0.5%), T3 (MgSO4 @ 0.5%), T4 (KNO3 @ 0.5%), T5 (B @ 0.5%), T6 (ZnSO4 @ 1.0%), T7(MgSO4 @ 1.0%), T8 (KNO3 @ 1.0%), T9 (B @ 1.0%), T10 (ZnSO4 + MgSO4 +KNO3+B @0.5%), T11 (ZnSO4+MgSO4+KNO3+B @ 1.0%), T12 (Salicylic acid @ 100ppm) and T13 (Salicylic acid @ 200 ppm), replicated thrice. Among, horticultural trait, maximum vine length was observed in foliar application of ZnSO4 + MgSO4 + KNO3+B @ 0.5% (T10). Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 200 ppm (T13) gave higher leaf length, leaf width and petiole length. Minimum days to 50 % male and female flowering as well as harvest were observed in foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% (T2). ZnSO4 + MgSO4 +KNO3+B @ 0.5% (T10) and MgSO4 @ 0.5% (T3) significantly affected the fruit yield traits like polar diameter of fruit, equatorial diameter of fruit, flesh thickness, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, number of fruits per plot, fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per plot and seed yield traits viz., number of seeds per fruit, 100seed weight and seed yield per plant. Quality traits like seed colour, dry matter, oil content, protein content, ash content, fibre, total sugar and reducing sugar too were maximized by foliar application of T10 (ZnSO4+ MgSO4 + KNO3 +B @ 0.5%) and T3 (MgSO4 @ 0.5%). Correlation analysis revealed that polar and equatorial diameter, flesh thickness, fruit weight, vine length and number of primary branches per plant significantly and positively contributed towards fruit yield per plot while, seed yield was directly correlated with number of seeds per fruit, 100-seed weight, dry matter, oil content, ash content and reducing sugar. Suggesting focus on these characters for further improvement of seed yield and quality of hull-less pumpkin. Considering above and the benefit-cost ratio among T3 and T10, T3 (MgSO4 @ 0.5%) can be adjudged as the best treatment for enhancing growth and yield of PAU Magaz Kadoo-1. Therefore, it can be stated that the four foliar applications of MgSO4 @ 0.5% at fortnightly interval with the onset of 50% flowering can significantly improve the growth, yield and quality attributes of hull-less seeded pumpkin.

Citation

Monika (2023). Effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and quality attributes of hull-less seeded pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca) (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.