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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (11): 2518-2526    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60611-5
Soil & Fertilization · Irrigation · Agro-Ecology & Environment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities in a Semi-Arid Agricultural Area
 Yasemin Kuslu, Ustun Sahin, Fatih M Kiziloglu, Selcuk Memis
Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
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摘要  Fruit yield, yield components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of summer squash responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated with a field study. Irrigations were done when the total evaporated water from a Class A pan was about 30 mm. Different irrigation quantities were adjusted using three different plant-pan coefficients (Kcp, 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and 70% (Kcp3)). Results indicated that lower irrigation quantities provided statistically lower yield and yield components. The highest seasonal fruit yield (80.0 t ha-1) was determined in the Kcp1 treatment, which applied the highest volume of irrigation water (452.9 mm). The highest early fruit yield, average fruit weight and fruit diameter, length and number per plant were also determined in the Kcp1 treatment, with values of 7.25 t ha-1, 264.1 g, 5.49 cm, 19.95 cm and 10.92, respectively. Although the IWUE value was the highest in the Kcp1 treatment (176.6 kg ha-1 mm-1), it was statistically similar to the value for Kcp3 treatment (157.1 kg ha-1 mm-1). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruits was higher in the Kcp1 (44.27 μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg-1 fresh sample) and in the Kcp2 (84.75%) treatments, respectively. Major (Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and trace (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B) mineral contents of squash fruits were the highest in the Kcp2 treatment, with the exception of P, Ca and Cu. Mineral contents and total phenolic content were significantly affected by irrigation quantities, but antioxidant activity was not affected. It can be concluded that the Kcp1 treatment was the most suitable for achieving higher yield and IWUE. However, the Kcp2 treatment will be the most suitable due to the high fruit quality and relatively high yield in water shortage conditions.

Abstract  Fruit yield, yield components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of summer squash responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated with a field study. Irrigations were done when the total evaporated water from a Class A pan was about 30 mm. Different irrigation quantities were adjusted using three different plant-pan coefficients (Kcp, 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and 70% (Kcp3)). Results indicated that lower irrigation quantities provided statistically lower yield and yield components. The highest seasonal fruit yield (80.0 t ha-1) was determined in the Kcp1 treatment, which applied the highest volume of irrigation water (452.9 mm). The highest early fruit yield, average fruit weight and fruit diameter, length and number per plant were also determined in the Kcp1 treatment, with values of 7.25 t ha-1, 264.1 g, 5.49 cm, 19.95 cm and 10.92, respectively. Although the IWUE value was the highest in the Kcp1 treatment (176.6 kg ha-1 mm-1), it was statistically similar to the value for Kcp3 treatment (157.1 kg ha-1 mm-1). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruits was higher in the Kcp1 (44.27 μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg-1 fresh sample) and in the Kcp2 (84.75%) treatments, respectively. Major (Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and trace (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B) mineral contents of squash fruits were the highest in the Kcp2 treatment, with the exception of P, Ca and Cu. Mineral contents and total phenolic content were significantly affected by irrigation quantities, but antioxidant activity was not affected. It can be concluded that the Kcp1 treatment was the most suitable for achieving higher yield and IWUE. However, the Kcp2 treatment will be the most suitable due to the high fruit quality and relatively high yield in water shortage conditions.
Keywords:  summer squash       drip irrigation       irrigation water use efficiency       total phenolic content       antioxidant activity       fruit mineral content  
Received: 15 April 2012   Accepted:
Fund: 

We thank to Associate Prof. Memnune Sengul in Department of Food Engineering in Ataturk University, Turkey, for phenolic and antioxidant analysis and to Research Assistant Adem Gunes in Department of Soil in Ataturk University for mineral substance analysis.

Corresponding Authors:  Yasemin Kuslu, Tel: +90-442-2313466, +90-532-2400065, E-mail: ykuslu@atauni.edu.tr     E-mail:  ykuslu@atauni.edu.tr

Cite this article: 

Yasemin Kuslu, Ustun Sahin, Fatih M Kiziloglu, Selcuk Memis. 2014. Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities in a Semi-Arid Agricultural Area. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(11): 2518-2526.

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