EFFECT OF MULCHES AND PHOSPHORUS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF SQUASH

Abstract

This study was conducted at Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October, 2015 to January, 2016 to find out effect of mulches and phosphorus on the growth and yield of squash. The experiment consisted with two factors. Factor A: Different mulches- Mo:control, MI: rice straw and M2: black polythene and Factor B: Phosphorus (3 levelsj-Po: o kg P20slha, PI: 60 kg P20s/ha and P2: 90 kg P20slha. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Mulches and phosphorus showed significant variations on most of the parameters. In case of mulches, highest individual fruit weight (328.0 g) and fruit yield (37.0 t ha') was recorded from M2, whereas the lowest fruit weight (280.8 g) and fruit yield (21.5 t ha") was recorded from Mo.In case of phosphorus highest individual fruit weight (300.4 g) and fruit yield (31.3 t ha') was recorded from P2,whereas the lowest fruit weight (290.4 g) and fruit yield (26.2 t ha") was recorded from Po. For combination, highest individual fruit weight (338.2 g) and fruit yield (39.9 t ha') were recorded from M2P2 while the lowest individual fruit weight (272.2 g) and fruit yield (19.7 t ha') were recorded from MoPo.The highest BCR (2.37) was found in M2P2 and lowest BCR (1.20) was found in MaPo. So, it can be concluded that black polythene mulch with 90 kg P20s/ha is suitable for squash cultivation.