Effect of foliar spraying with different concentrations of nutrient solution (Green Grow) on vegetative and flowering growth characteristics and yield of two zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars

Abstract

The purpose of the experiment was to increase the production of zucchini by examining the effect of foliar spraying of the Green Grow nutrient solution at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ml/10L on the vegetative and flowering growth and yield of two zucchini cultivars (Marriott Ira and Marriott Zalek F1). While the control was sprayed with only distilled water, the treated plants were sprayed five times, with a two-week interval between each application, until complete saturation. In 2019, the experiment was conducted on the farm of the College of Agriculture at Ibb University in Yemen. The results demonstrated that the two studied cultivars responded differently to the nutrient solution, with the Marriott Zalik F1 cultivar exhibiting superior performance in all studied characteristics. Number of female flowers per plant: 14.10; sex ratio: 0.63; height of plant: 63.79 cm; number of leaves per plant: 32.37; and number of branches per plant: 2.21. The number of fruits per plant is 10.05, the proportion of knotty flowers is 67.38%, the production per plant is 1.38 kg, and the total productivity is 35.56 tons/ha, except for the number of male flowers, which recorded the lowest number and with a significant decrease of 22.98 male flowers, and the concentration of 30 ml/10L gave the lowest values with a significant decrease in the number of male flowers reached 21.22 flowers and the highest, with significant superiority. One plant produced 1.26 kg, and the total yield per hectare was 32.37 tons. The interaction between the cultivar and the nutrient solution had a significant effect, as the treatment of the interaction between the cultivar Marriott Zalik F1 and a concentration of 30 ml/10L yielded the highest values and significant superiority for each of the following: number of female flowers per plant (15.64), sexual ratio (0.78), plant height (66.22 cm), number of leaves per plant (36.56), number of branches per plant (2.67), number of fruits per plant (10.70), and percentage of knotted flowers (68.45), production of one plant (1.42 kg), and the total productivity (36.56 tons/ha). The results demonstrated the efficacy of the Green Grow nutrient solution at a specific concentration with the hybrid cultivar in increasing plant production and, consequently, the total yield.