Abstract
Round gourd (Praecitrullus fistulosus), a shallow-rooted cucurbit-vegetable, is sensitive to temperature and needs nutrient-rich soil for its successful cultivation. A two-year study was conducted in the North-Indian plains to investigate the effects of mulching (M) [silver-black polyethylene (SBPM), black polyethylene (BPM), paddy straw (6 t ha−1) (PSM), and bare soil (BS)] at six sowing dates (DS) [1st week of March (DS1), April (DS2), May (DS3), June (DS4), July (DS5), and August (DS6)] on soil temperature, fruit yield, plant biomass, and nutrient (N, P, and K) uptake and concentrations in the fruit and plant. Since the interaction effects of year with DS and M were significant for most parameters, the data were analyzed separately by each year. The effects of DS, M, and interaction (DS × M) were significant for all the parameters; however, interaction effects were non-significant for fruit nutrient concentrations in both years of the study. All three mulches enhanced the nutrient concentrations in the fruit and plant compared to BS at all sowing times. However, these increments were not positively correlated with increases in total nutrient uptake, plant biomass, and fruit yield, as soil temperature played a more decisive role in improving fruit yield. The crop yield was significantly and positively correlated with N, P, and K uptake at all sowing times except for P uptake in DS4 and DS5. Therefore, in DS4 and DS5, additional application of P-fertilizers should be avoided, and efforts should be made to reduce the soil temperature using higher doses of PSM.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Sowing date, mulch, and their interaction significantly affected all measured parameters.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“The effects of DS, M, and interaction (DS × M) were significant for all the parameters”
t0“Round gourd”
Claim · model-written summary
Sowing date by mulch interactions were not significant for fruit nutrient concentrations in either year.
- Taxon
- Round gourdt0
- Treatment
- interaction effectse0
- Outcome
- fruit nutrient concentrationse0
- Qualifier
- both years of the studye0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“interaction effects were non-significant for fruit nutrient concentrations in both years of the study”
t0“Round gourd”
Claim · model-written summary
All three mulches increased fruit and plant nutrient concentrations relative to bare soil at every sowing time.
Verbatim
e0“All three mulches enhanced the nutrient concentrations in the fruit and plant compared to BS at all sowing times”
t0“Round gourd”
Claim · model-written summary
Nutrient concentration increases did not correlate positively with total nutrient uptake, biomass or fruit yield increases.
- Taxon
- Round gourdt0
- Organ / stage
- fruit and plante1
- Outcome
- total nutrient uptake, plant biomass, and fruit yielde0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“these increments were not positively correlated with increases in total nutrient uptake, plant biomass, and fruit yield”
t0“Round gourd”
e1“nutrient concentrations in the fruit and plant”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil temperature was more decisive than nutrient concentration increases for improving fruit yield.
Verbatim
e0“soil temperature played a more decisive role in improving fruit yield”
t0“Round gourd”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit yield correlated positively with N, P and K uptake at all sowing times except P uptake in DS4 and DS5.
Verbatim
e0“crop yield was significantly and positively correlated with N, P, and K uptake at all sowing times except for P uptake in DS4 and DS5”
t0“Round gourd”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors advise avoiding extra P fertilizer at June and July sowings.
Verbatim
e0“in DS4 and DS5, additional application of P-fertilizers should be avoided”
t0“Round gourd”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors advise using higher paddy straw mulch doses to reduce soil temperature in June and July sowings.
Verbatim
e0“efforts should be made to reduce the soil temperature using higher doses of PSM”
t0“Round gourd”