IMPACT OF GROWING DEGREE DAYS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BOTTLE GOURD (LEGENARIA SICERARIA (MOL.) STANDL) IN DIFFERENT PLANTING DATES

Author's Name: Ahmed, M. S. M.
Subject Area: Life Sciences
Subject Agricultural
Section Research Paper

Keyword:

Bottle Gourd - Lagenaria Siceraria - Growing Degree Days - Planting Dates - Correlation.


Abstract

The field experiment was carried out at Al-Bousaily farm which located at AL-Behaira governorate belong to the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Egypt, during the growing summer seasons of 2012 and 2013. Al-Bousaily is situated at 30° 35? N latitude, 30°36? E longitude to investigate the effect of different planting dates i.e., Mar., 15, Apr., 15 and May, 15 on growth and yield of bottle gourd plant, cv. Pusa Summer Prolific Long, as well as the effect of accumulated heat units, which calculated as growing degree days (GDDs) on the plant development from one stage to another. The correlation between vegetative growth parameters and number of days after cultivation was positive and strong. The correlation values (R2) were ranged from 0.7 up to 0.98. The planting date on May, 15 gave the highest values of vine length, no. of leaves, vine diameter, leaf area and sex ratio of bottle gourd plant. The lowest values were recorded in planting on March, 15. The lowest no. of days from planting to male flower formation, female flower formation and edible fruit harvesting recorded in May, 15 planting date. Whereas, the highest edible fruits yield was 9 Ton per feddan were recorded in Mar., 15 planting date. In addition, growing degree days (GDDs) were estimated for bottle gourd plant (from transplanting to the end of the season) during both studied seasons, the recorded values were (1653, 1657), (1768, 1809) and (1798, 1836) in Mar., 15, Apr., 15 and May, 15 planting dates, respectively. Results obtained that growing degree days is not only the limiting factor of plant growth and production but the distribution of these growing degree days through the different stages of plant growth cycle.

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