Abstract

DIAZ FRANCO, Arturo; ALVARADO CARRILLO, Manuel; ALEJANDRO ALLENDE, Florencia  and  ORTIZ CHAIREZ, Flor Elena. Growth, nutrition and yield of squash with biological and mineral fertilization. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.4, pp.445-453. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2016.32.04.08.

In modern agriculture the emerging paradigm is to reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic agrochemicals that adversely impact the environment. Therefore, the use of natural products such as biological fertilization is now privileged. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of chicken manure and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus intraradices, compared with inorganic fertilizer 120-90-00, on characteristics of squash plant (Cucurbita pepo) and its productivity, under greenhouse and field conditions. In greenhouse, the chicken manure and the AMF were applied at the rate of 3 and 5 g/pot, in field they were 0.5 kg/3.3 kg of seed and 3 t/ha, respectively. Chlorophyll index (SPAD), plant height, foliar and radical biomass, and mycorrhizal colonization were measured in the greenhouse. In field, 2012 and 2013, the variables evaluated were chlorophyll, plant height, diameter and weight of fruit, as well as yields. In addition, in 2013 foliar contents of P, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ca and Mg were determined. In greenhouse, in general, inorganic fertilizer, chicken manure and AMF, exceeded the absolute control group in all of variables evaluated. Treatments with AMF had an average of 59 % of mycorrhizal colonization. In field, the greatest chlorophyll values (37.8 SPAD), plant height (68.3 cm), weight of fruit (220 g) and yield (31.3 t/ha), were recorded in 2012, and they were associated with greater rainfall. Results of 2012 and 2013 indicated that larger plant height was recorded with inorganic fertilizer, although there were no significant differences between chicken manure, AMF and inorganic fertilizer for chlorophyll, diameter and weight of fruit, and total yield. Also, foliar contents of P, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ca and Mg, were similar in the same treatments. The results seem to indicate that chicken manure and AMF inoculation recorded in squash plant characteristics, fruit and yields, are comparable with that of mineral fertilization.

Keywords : productivity; chicken manure; arbuscular mycorrhiza; Cucurbita pepo.

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