Effects of nitrogen and plant spacing on the phenological characteristics, morphology and the yield of medical pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.)

In order to investigate the effect of nitrogen and plant spacing on phenological characteristics, morphology, and fruit yield in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), an experiment was conducted at the farm of Agriculture Faculty, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, during 2013. The study was performed as factorial in a complete randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of nitrogen at five levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 Kg ha-1) and plant spacing with a square array at three levels (30, 60 and 90 cm). According to the results, the planting time until flowering and fruiting was longer in the treatment of 200 kg N. The number of nodes, sub-branches, and leaves per plant was higher in the planting space of 90 cm along with 200 Kg ha-1 nitrogen. The higher plant length and fruit yield were recorded for the planting space of 60 cm along with 150 Kg ha-1 nitrogen. The highest leaf dry weight was related to the 200 Kg ha-1 nitrogen. The use of 150 Kg ha-1 nitrogen caused to the highest number of male and female flowers, fruit fresh weight, number of seeds per fruit. The higher leaf dry weight, male and female flowers, and fruits per plant were obtained in the planting space of 90 cm. Finally, the application of 150 Kg ha-1 nitrogen and planting space of 60 cm led to the highest number of fruits and fruit yield in unit area.