Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, cilt.24, ss.196-210, 2019 (Hakemli Dergi)
Aims: In this study, effects of different nitrogen applications during
sowing to pumpkin growth, yield, evapotranspiration and water use efficiency
were investigated under irrigated agriculture in Kayseri province of Middle
Anatolian Region of Turkey.
Methods and Results: The
study, designed in completely randomized block-plots with 4 replications, was
conducted in the experimental area of Erciyes University Agricultural Research
and Training Center. Develi pumpkin population (Cucurbita pepo L.) was used. The treatments were N0, N20,
N40, N60, N80 and N100 that
consisted of applications of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of pumpkin
nitrogen need, respectively. The rest of nitrogen amounts were applied by
fertigation in 5 consecutive irrigations and all treatment were received the
same amount of nitrogen. Soil moisture of the treatments were monitored by
neutron meter. Depleted water from root zone was applied by drip irrigation
system. The highest total leaf area was determined in N100 while the
highest total chlorophyll amounts were determined in N80 and N100.
Nitrogen applications big than 80% during sowing increased water use
efficiency, fruit diameter, fruit yield, seed yield per fruit and seed yield,
significantly. Seed yield in N100 was found 139.6% higher than seed
yield in N0. The least
nitrogen rate during sowing for Develi pumpkin population was offered as 100 kg
per ha under controlled irrigation conditions.
Conclusions: Application
of whole nitrogen needs to pumpkin at sowing under controlled irrigation
conditions possitively affected pumpkin seed yield and all growth parameters. At
least 80% of pumpkin nitrogen need should be applied at sowing to obtaine
higher yield and quality.
Significance and Impact of the Study: If pumpkin irrigations are performed by measuring soil moisture
deficit in effective root zone, higher seed yield and quality would be obtained
by applitying nitrogen need at sowing without dividing several parts.