Nitrogen and potassium fertirrigation on yield characteristics of Italian Zucchini in protected cultivation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of nitrogen and potassium applied through fertirrigation on yield characteristics of Italian Zucchini, Novita Plus cultivar. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Irrigation Technical Center of the State University of Maringá, Maringá -PR, adopting a completely randomized design in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. Four doses of nitrogen (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg ha . Number of leaves, number of male and female flowers, average yield and mass of fruits per plant were evaluated. There was an increase in leaf production at the maximum nitrogen dose, as well as an increase in the number of male flowers at the maximum dose of nitrogen and potassium. The number of female flowers was influenced only by nitrogen, with an increase in the number of flowers at the highest nitrogen levels. Regarding the fruit yield, the best obtained doses were 179.19 kg ha -1 of N and 171.25 kg ha -1 of K 2 O. Finally, the doses that expressed maximum fruit mass gain were 136.92 kg ha -1 of N and 184.17 kg ha -1 of K 2 O.

Growth, yield, nutrient accumulation and export and thermal sum of Italian zucchini

“…K controls cell turgidity, activates enzymes involved in the processes of respiration and photosynthesis and transport of carbohydrates. According to Araújo et al (2014) and Andrean et al (2017), an increase of doses of this nutrient, results in a higher content of potassium, pH and 'ratio' relation on Italian zucchini fruits, and also in an increase in number of male flowers. This macronutrient was the second most accumulated, 9.3 g plant -1 at 84 DAT.…”

“…Most of them are about cucurbits of higher economic value, such as melon and watermelon (Pôrto et al, 2012). The found studies on zucchini evaluated nitrogen and potassium doses (Pôrto et al, 2012;Araújo et al, 2013Araújo et al, , 2014Costa et al, 2015;Andrean et al, 2017).…”

Effect of Sewage Sludge on Italian Zucchini Plantation

“…The increase of biomass in the plant parts (Figure 2) is indicative of the beneficial effects, by the availability of nutrients to the plants, with the adjustment of the adequate doses of sewage sludge, mainly because the nutrients play an important role in the vegetal metabolism and in the aid of the synthesis and accumulation of carbohydrate (TAIZ et al, 2017). In the hybrid pumpkin in N, followed by K was the most absorbed nutrients (ANDREAN et al, 2017;COSTA et al, 2017). Results that corroborate with observations by Ramos et al (2010) in pumpkin culture.…”