Effect of organic materials on yield and nutrient status in squash plants

Abstract EN

An experiment was done under sandy soil conditions (Ahmed Orabe farm, Cairo-Ismailia desert road) to identify the effect of different organic materials (farmyard manure, compost, humic acid and wheat straw) individually or combination with half recommended doses of NPK fertilizers on squash growth, productivity and nutrients concentration and uptake.

Obtained results showed that the addition of organic materials individually led to significant increase in plant growth parameters including steam length (cm), number of fresh fruits / plant total dry weight and total fruits yield (kg / fed.) compared to control plant, on the other hand, plant received recommended dose of NPK recorded the highest values of plant growth parameters compared to each of the organic materials individually.

However the combination between organic material + half the recommended dose of NPK caused higher values of plant growth parameters as compared to the recommended dose of mineral fertilizers, One exception the treatment (wheat straw) which resulted still less values for plant growth parameters corresponding ones attained due to the recommended dose.

As for macronutrients concentration and uptake, the results indicated that N, P and K concentrations as well as their uptake values by squash plants ( shoot and fruit) were enhanced by addition of different organic materials but recommended dose of NPK caused higher N.

P and K concentrations and uptake values when compared with organic materials individually.

Application of different organic materials (FYM, compost and humic acid) in combination with half the recommended dose of NPK induced the higher values of concentration and uptake of the studied nutrients as compared to application organic materials individually and recommended dose of NPK.

However, the highest values were achieved due to application of humic acid + half recommended dose of NPK.

Concentration as well as uptake of Fe, Zn and Mn by squash plants was enhanced by application of different organic materials.

The highest values of Fe concentration and uptake were obtained by plant received FYM + half recommended dose of NPK.

However, the highest values of Zn and Mn were recorded by the plants received compost +half recommended dose of NPK.

It is that treating sandy soils with organic materials slightly decreased soil bulk density and soil reaction but on the other hand increased EC values and OM contents.