Study of Plant Population and Phosphate Fertilization on some Agronomic Characters and Seed and Fruit Yield of Pumpkin (cucurbita pepo L.)

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is an annual plant that has been introduced to Iran in recent years. Its effective components are used to cure some diseases such as prostat hyperplasia, control of taenia, Arleriosclerosis, regulation of alimentary canal and hormonal balance especially in women and strengthening men sexual appeal in advanced countries. Phosphate is one of the macro-elements affecting root growth and development and seed and fruit yield. On the other hand, regarding to its high and indefinite shoot development, planting density is highly important to get the highest yield. An experiment was conducted to study planting density and phosphate in a faeturial experiment level. Three stand density as 10000, 13000, 16000 per ha and four pure phosphate as 0, 50, 100, 150 kg/ha-1 were based on RBCD with three replications, in Feyz-Abad research station, Qazvin in 2004. Results showed 10000 density had significant effectiveness on node number, shoot length, leaf number, leaf dry weight and lateral shoot number. Phosphate also affected significantly the highest leaf dry weight which was achieved by using 150-kg/ha-1 phosphate. The highest node number has been produced by 100 kg/ha-1 phosphate. 10000 plant/ha caused the highest fruit yield, seed number and seed dry weight. Also, 100 kg/ha-1 phosphate treatment leaded to the most seed number and the highest seed dry weight. Plant population and phosphate fertilizer had no significant difference on the oil content.