Nader R. Habashy and 2Mohamed S.A. Ewees( 2011). Improving Productivity Of Zucchini Squash Grown Under Moderately Saline Soil Using Gypsum, Organo-Stimulants And Am-FungiJournal of Applied Sciences Research, 7(12): 2112-2126, ISSN 1819-544X
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted on a newly reclaimed moderate saline sandy clay loam soil at South- Tahrir Sector, Al-Behira Governorate, Egypt during the growing season of 2010, under sprinkler irrigation system, located between Latitude 30° 28′ 18″ N Longitude 30° 48′ 35″E. This study was conducted to identify the effect of applied gypsum at the rates of 0, 0.75 and 1.50 ton fed-1 incombination with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and potassium fulvate soil application at the rates of 0, 0.50 and 1.0 kg fed-1 on improving some soil properties as well as the zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L. var Tempra) yield, some yield characters and nutrients. The obtained results of field work and physio-chemical characteristics revealed that the experimental soil could be classified as "Typic Torriorthents, fine loamy, mixed, hyperthermic" and a moderately suitable class (S2) for irrigated agriculture land in both current and potential conditions. Also, the resultant adaptations of soil suitability class in the current condition for cultivating zucchini squash plants could be considered as not suitable (N1S1n), with limiting factors of soil salinity/alkalinity, whether be becomes highly suitable (S2S1) in the potential condition. Data showed also a clearly response for ameliorating soil properties, i.e., soil pH, ECe and ESP values as well as soil nutritional status as a result of the applied treatments, particularly those treated with the highest rates of gypsum and potassium fulvate as a combined treatment. In general, the data showed also that, application of gypsum and potassium fulvate led to improve some soil properties, i.e., soil bulk density, total porosity, pH and ECe. It could be noticed that values of soil total porosity exhibited gradually pronounced increases with increasing the applied rates of gypsum in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and potassium fulvate, while the reverse was true for soil bulk density, pH, ESP and ECe, especially at the highest rate of gypsum and Potassium fulvate. Also, The data showed that a progressive significant increases in all the studied available macronutrients (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Zn) upon treating the soil with the gypsum in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and potassium fulvate particularly at the applied rate of (1.5 ton of gypsum fed-1 +1.0 kg of potassium fulvate fed-1) as compared to the control after zucchini squash harvesting. In addition, the tested treatments recorded significant increases in biomass, yield, fruit characters measurements and leaf chlorophyll assay of zucchini squash plants as well as macro-& micro nutrients contents of N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn, while the reverse was true for Na as non-nutritive element with superiority to combined treatment of (AM fungi + gypsum + potassium fulvate). That was true, since such triple combined treatment resulted in a beneficial effect, which is more attributed to enrich in mineral and organic substances that are essential to plant growth, stimulating and activating the bio-chemical processes in plant (i.e. respiration, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content). The later processes are urgent to increase the yield and improve its quality under the severe conditions of the experimental soil. Therefore, under the condition of the studied newly reclaimed moderate saline sandy clay loam soil, the applied gypsum with AM fungi and rganostimulants potassium fulvate plays an effective role for improving soil characters; increasing the available nutrient contents and raising the efficiency of gypsum application. This of course positively reflected on zucchini squash yield and improved its characters.
Keywords: (Newly reclaimed saline soil, AM-fungi, gypsum, potassium fulvate.)
