Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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.