Enhancing growth and yield of squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) through mulching and inorganic fertilizers

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of mulching and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of squash at the Horticultural Farm of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from November 2021 to February 2022. The experiment consisted of three types of mulching viz., M0 (Control), M1 (Black polythene) and M₂ (Rice straw), and five levels of inorganic fertilizers viz., T0 = Control, T1 = N : P : K: S @ 70: 70: 80: 10 kg/ha, T2 = N : P : K: S @ 80: 80: 90: 15 kg/ha, T3 = N : P : K: S @ 90: 90: 100: 20 kg/ha, T4 = N : P : K: S @ 100: 100: 110: 25 kg/ha. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest yield per plot (6.06 Kg) and highest yield per hectare (33.65 t) were observed from M1 (Black polythene) while the lowest yield per plot (4.11 kg) and yield per hectare (22.85 t) were found from M0 (Control). T3 treatment (N: P : K: S @ 90: 90: 100: 20 kg/ha) produced the maximum yield per plot (7.14 kg) and yield per hectare (39.65 t) while T0 (Control) treatment produced the minimum yield per plot (3.22 kg) and yield per hectare (17.86 t). The maximum yield per plot (8.36 Kg) was obtained from M1T3 (Black polythene and N: P: K: S @ 90: 90: 100: 20 kg/ha) treatment while the minimum yield per plot (2.14 Kg) was recorded from M0T0 (Control) treatment. The maximum yield per hectare (46.43 t) was obtained from M1T3 (Black polythene and N : P : K: S @ 90: 90: 100: 20 kg/ha) treatment while the minimum yield per hectare (11.89 t) was recorded from M0T0 (Control) treatment. Therefore, combined application of black polythene mulch along with N : P : K: S @ 90: 90: 100: 20 kg/ha was found to be better in respect of growth and yield of squash compared to other treatments.