Download Effect of Magnetic Water and Phosphorous Rates on Growth and

Effect of Magnetic Water and Phosphorous
Rates on Growth and Nutrients Uptake by
Summer Squash (Cucurbita Pepo L.) in
Calcareous Soils (Duhok Governorate)
Dissertation
Submitted to the Council of the College of Agriculture University of Duhok in
Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Master in
Agricultural Sciences Soil and Water Sciences in
(Soil Fertility)
By
SARWAR MOHAMMED RASHEED AHMED
B.Sc. AGRICULTURE SCIENCES/ SOIL AND
WATER SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF DUHOK (2007)
Supervised by
Dr. KHALIDA A. HASSAN
ASSIST PROFESSOR
June, 2011 A.D.
Rajab 1432 H
Jozardan, 2711 K
Summary
The study was conducted at the college of Agriculture/ Duhok
University (situated between longitude 43.01° E and latitude 36.84° N)
during August-November 2009, to study the effect of magnetized water,
phosphorus fertilizer rates (P0= 0, P1= 90, P2 = 180, P3 = 270 kg P 2O5
ha-1) and their interactions on growth, yield and nutrients uptake by
squash plant, in addition to their effect on some soil chemical properties.
A randomized complete block design (RCBD) in factorial experiment
with three replications was used.
Summer squash (Mulla-Ahmed) seeds were sown in ridges 0.5 m
apart and cultivated according to standard agriculture practices. Nitrogen
and potassium fertilizers at rates 100 kg ha-1 were added uniformly to all
treatments. Weeds, fungi and insects were controlled.
Plants and fruits samples were taken for measuring growth and
fruit parameters. Soil samples from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth were also
collected for measuring some chemical characteristics.
The analysis of data collected during the study showed that:
1. Magnetic water significantly increased the dry weight of plant parts
[leaves, necks and (stems & branches)], stem length, number of branches
per plant, leaf area, chlorophyll A, B and (A+B).
2. Magnetic water also has significant effect on concentration and uptake of
nutrients by plant parts. Higher and significant nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium and calcium concentration in leaves, (stems & branches) and
fruits were found in plants irrigated with magnetic water. Higher uptake
of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in all parts
were also achieved with treated plants.
3. Magnetic treatment increased all the soil properties and nutrient
concentrations which were measured in this study, and were significantly
higher at 0-15 cm depth.
4. P3 treatment gave the higher dry weight of plant parts and highest
concentration of phosphorus in (stems & branches) and fruits, and
highest concentration of potassium and calcium in leaves and (stems &
branches). P3 also gave highest significant nutrients uptake by all plant
parts.
5. Higher EC, calcium, magnesium, total nitrogen in the soil were achieved
with P3 rate. However, the slight increase in soil salinity has no negative
impact on plant growth.
6. The best interaction for magnetic water and P rates was (P3 x MW) for
most growth parameters. The interaction of P3x MW gave the best values
of uptake for most nutrients. However, P2 x MW gave similar results as
P3 x MW for some nutrients in leaves and necks.
(P3 x MW) gave higher concentration of calcium, magnesium,
total nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil.