Effect of vermicompost, biochar and mycorrhizal symbiosis on some qualitative and quantitative characteristics of medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.)

In order to investigate the effect of vermicompost, biochar and mycorrhizal symbiosis on some qualitative and quantitative traits of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) as a medicinal plant, a split factorial experiment was implemented in the form of randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The study was conducted at the experimental field of Agriculture and Natural Resources Faculty of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Mahdasht, Iran, in 2016. The factors were characterized as vermicompost in three levels (0, 6 and 12 ton/ha) as the main factor, biochar in three levels (0, 6 and 12 ton/ha) and mycorrhiza in two levels (non inoculation and inoculation) as the sub factors. Results showed that the main effect of factors on the mycorrhizal symbiosis percentage and grain phosphorus content was significant (P˂0.01). Analysis of variance between the interaction effects of vermicompost × biochar were significant on the LAI, dry fruit yield, grain yield and dry weight ratio of grain to fruit (P˂0.01) as well as on the number of lateral stem (P˂0.05). Mean comparison of the interaction effect of vermicompost × biochar showed that the application of 12 (ton/ha) vermicompost along with 12 (ton/ha) biochar resulted in the highest amount of LAI (12.28), number of lateral stem (13.33 number/ plant), dry fruit yield (619.51 kg/ha), grain yield (410.02 kg/ha) and dry weight ratio of grain to fruit (66.17%). Therefore, the use of vermicompost along with biochar is recommended in production of pumpkin.