**Influence of planting time and spacing on quality of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) under naturally ventilated polyhouse**

Author: Dhiraj Bhattacharjee, Deepa Borbora Phookan, Suchibrata Chamuah, Mausum Kumar Nath, Sailen Gogoi, Sangita Das, Palash Debnath

Category: Research Article

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Abstract:

An experiment was carried out during 2021-2022 to examine the influence of planting time and spacing on the growth, yield, and quality of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo. L) under a naturally ventilated polyhouse in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. Factorial Randomized Block Design was used to set up the experiment with 4 different times of planting (10^th November 2021, 1^st December 2021, 20^th December 2021 and 10^th January 2022), and 3 spacings (45cm x 60cm, 60cm x 60cm, and 75cm x 60cm) with 3 replications. Moisture content of fruit (96.24% __ampersandsign 95.31%) was highest in P₄ and S₃ spacing whereas ascorbic acid content (38.46mg/100g __ampersandsign 36.82 mg/100g) was highest in P₂and S₃ spacing. The protein content of fruit (6.52 % __ampersandsign 6.42 %), total carotenoid content (8.37 __ampersandsignmu;g/g), fiber content (0.91 %), ash content (0.65 % __ampersandsign 0.59 %) was recorded highest in the P₃ planting and S₃ spacing. Total soluble solids content (4.15 brix __ampersandsign 3.95 brix) was highest in P₃. Fat content (0.66 mg __ampersandsign 0.67 mg) was highest in P₄ planting and S₃ spacing. Fiber content (0.90 %) in S₂ spacing was found to be significantly different from other spacing. The outcome of the study showed that under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions planting on 20^th December along with a moderate planting distance of 60cm x 60cm induces maximum advantage in plant’s quality parameters.

Keywords: ash, carotenoid, fiber, polyhouse, zucchini