Response of fertilizer and planting time on yield and economics of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) in Assam condition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31783/elsr.2023.92356361Keywords:
economics, fertilizers, planting dates, production, yield, zucchiniAbstract
In the agricultural sector, the vitally important factors to achieve higher production in a crop are fertilizer management and planting time. To maintain healthy plant growth and to boost crop production and productivity, fertilizer application, and planting dates have a pivotal role in the present scenario of climate change. However, the effect of fertilizer and planting dates on zucchini in agro-climatic conditions of Assam has not been properly studied. So, during the year 2019-20, it was assessed in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. Four fertilizer treatments 45: 48: 48 kg NPK/ha, 60: 64: 64 kg NPK/ha, 75: 80: 80 kg NPK/ha and keeping one treatment as control with three planting dates 1st December, 15th December, 1st January was imposed in twelve treatment combinations. The zucchini seedlings were planted at a 60 cm x 60 cm distance in a plot size of 3.24 m2 in a split-plot design. During the growing period, the diameter of fruit, length of fruit, weight of fruit, number of days to opening of flower to harvest, number of days to first harvest, number of days to last harvest, number of harvests, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant/ plot/ hectare were recorded. From this trial, it is concluded that early planting and maximum fertilizer dose were better in terms of the above physical and yield attributes.
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