The Effect of spraying of Nutrient solution (Fetrilon combi 2) on flowering and the Yield of Two Cultivars of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) .

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in a private field located between Karbala – Najaf governorates during the fall of 2006 to study the effect of spraying of nutrient solution (Fetrilon combi 2) on flowering and the yield of two cultivars of squash The experiment included 18 treatments which were an interaction between two cultivars of squash (Tokay and local Mullah ahmed) with three levels of concentrations of nutrient solution (0,25 and 50) gm.100 L-1 . The experiment was adopted in a split plot experiment within Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) with three replications. The means were compared using L.S.D at probability of 0.05. Nutrient solution was sprayed twice at (2-3) true and leaves stage two week later after the first spray. Results showed superiority of foreign cultivar upon local cultivar value in the flowering and yield characteristics and it's components (females flower number , fruits number, yield per plant, early yield and total yield). Spraying with nutrient solution gave a significant effect where 50 mg.100L-1 gave the highest value of the flowering and yield characteristics and it's components (females flower number, fruits number ,yield per plant , early yield and total yield) The interaction of spraying nutrient solution with cultivar was significant on flowering and yield characteristics and it's components. where the interaction between foreign cultivar with (50 g.100L-1 nutrient solution) gave higher rate of the (female flower number , fruits number, yield per plant, early yield and total yield) (12.43 females flower. plant-1, 8.33 fruit. plant-1, 1.871 kg. plant-1, 9.147 ton.ha-1, 45.736 ton. ha-1)compared to the interaction of local cultivar without spraying which gave lower rate of respectively (females flower number , fruits number, yield per plant, early yield and total yield) (5.67females flower. plant-1 , 2.73 fruit.plant-1, 0.638 kg. plant-13.119, ton.ha-, 15.596 ton. ha-1) respectively