ENHANCING YIELD AND NUTRIENTS UTILIZATION VIA PHOSPHORIN SOIL INOCULATION AND MG FOLIAR APPLICATION TO PUMPKIN (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) PLANTS GROWN IN SANDY CALCAREOUS SOIL

Abstract

Inoculation with phosphorien-containing phosphate-dissolving bacteria (PDB) and/or foliar application of magnesium (Mg) at the rates of 0, 0.5 and 1 mM on the growth, some chemical constituents and fruit yield and yield quality of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) grown on a sandy calcareous soil were investigated. Two field experiments (2012 and 2013) were performed in a completely randomized blocks design with six treatments, each with four replicates. The results indicated that PDB and/or Mg significantly increased stem length, canopy dry weight plant–1, number of leaves plant–1, total leaf area plant–1, leaf area leaf–1, leaf contents of pigments, free proline, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) and the ratio of Ca/Na, while leaf Na content was reduced. The application of PDB and/or Mg also increased fruit yield and yield quality (fruit length and diameter, flesh thickness, average fruit weight and fruit yield fed–1). It could be concluded that that PDB and Mg have pronounced positive effects on the growth, fruit yield and yield quality of pumpkin plants grown on sandy calcareous soil. PDB and Mg, therefore, have the potential to be used as a soil inoculation and foliar application, respectively for various crops to overcome the adverse effects of the newly-reclaimed sandy calcareous soils.