Influences of different plant spacing on growth and yield of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Abstract

In summer squash correct spacing is one of the most vital factors in agricultural plant growth because it helps plants to develop to their maximum potential above and below ground. Plant density is another major factor influencing production. Inter-species competition, in general, reduces production at too high populations. However, with very low populations, environmental elements such as light, space, water, and soil are not properly exploited, resulting in an overall decrease in yield. A field experiment was conducted during July - September in 2022, at the farmer’s field at Sorakalnatham, Natrampalli taluk, Tirupattur district, Tamil Nadu. The experimental design used was randomized block layout with three replications and four treatments. In respect of growth parameter wider plant spacing T4 (2m x 1m) i.e., lower plant density produced maximum plant height (69.52 cm), number of branches/plant (3.63), number of leaves/plant (17.85) and number nodes/plant (15.39). The flowering characters was lowest value was recorded in wider plant spacing viz., days to first male flower (28.49), days to first female flower (33.42), and lowest number of male flower/plant (25.46), highest number of female flower plant-1 (7.79). And also yield parameters of fruit length (41.94 cm), fruit girth (33.54 cm), single fruit weight (1.29 kg), number of fruits/plant (5.45) and fruit yield/plant (6.51 kg) was maximum was produced in wider plant spacing except fruit yield/ha (54.15 t/ha) at closer spacing. The above said treatment was found to be on par with the treatment T3 (2m x 0.5m).