Application of seaweed and salicylic acid on qualitative and qualitative traits of field pumpkin, Cucuorbita pepo L. in Khorramabad, Iran

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of foliar application of salicylic acid and seaweed in 2017-18 cropping year in Khorramabad City, Iran with a temperate climate at 11478 meters above sea level. The study was carried out in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized block design with three replications. Factors comprised density application of seaweed at three levels (control, seeds of wisdon and seaweed spraying) and salicylic acid spraying at four levels (control, one, two, and three times salicylic acid spraying). The traits evaluated include: seed yield, the weight of 1000 seeds, fruit yield, fruit number, the seed number, oil yield, essence yield, protein yield and phenolic compounds. The results showed that the effect of seaweed on all treatments were significantly different, while in the case of phenolic compounds, the differences were not significant. The effect of salicylic acid on all treatments were significant except for fruit yield and phenolic compounds. Seed yields led to the highest performance at a3 (781.92 kg h-1) while lowest at a1 (494.54 kg h-1) compared to other levels. The salicylic acid spraying at s4 (712.41 kg h-1) exhibited the highest, while s1 (587.72 kg h-1) displayed the lowest compared to other levels. Interaction of seaweed and salicylic acid were not significant. Seed yield was highest at a3s4 (825.00 kg h-1) while lowest at a1s1 (448.17 kg h-1). In conclusion, Pumpkin as drug crop is suitable for planting in Khorramabad region, Iran.