Growth and Yield of Squash Influenced by Leaf Pruning and Gibberellic Acid (GA3)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University's Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, to determine the effect of pruning and GA3 on squash growth and yield over the period from November 2017 to February 2018 Three levels of pruning as P0 = No pruning (control), P1 = 1st pruning at 20 DAT (1st and 2nd leaves) and P2 = 2nd pruning at 30 DAT (3rd and 4th leaves) and four levels of GA3foliar application as G0 = No GA3 (control), G1 = 100 ppm GA3, G2 = 200 ppm GA3 and G3 = 400 ppm GA3 considered for the present study. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Considering growth parameters, pruning treatment had a significant effect on growth, yield contributing parameters and yield of squash except for stem base diameter and individual fruit weight. Regarding GA3 treatments, growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced except fruit diameter. In terms of the combined effect of pruning and GA3 treatments, all the studied growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced. The highest stem length (64.73 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (23.59), stem base diameter (2.09 cm), number of male flower plant-1 (8.69), number of female flower plant-1 (7.52), total number of fruits plant-1 (5.74), fruit length (22.42 cm), fruit diameter (6.15 cm), individual fruit weight (507.66 g), dry weight of fruit (6.61%), weight of fruits plant-1 (2914.33 g) and fruit yield ha-1 (29.14 t) were also found from the treatment combination of P1G1 compared to the other treatment combination. Hence, we can summarize that 1st pruning at 20 DAT (1st and 2nd leaves) with 100 ppm GA3 given the maximum output in terms of yield compared to other treatments.