EVALUATION OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ZINC SOURCES ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENTS UPTAKE OF SQUASH PLANTS

A felid experiment was carried out in three replicates during summer season of 2010 to evaluate the effect of phosphorus rates (0,20 and 30 kg fad^-1.) and foliar application of zinc resources (ZnSO4, Zn EDTA, ZnCI2 and Zn(NH4)PO4) at 10 mg zinc I^-1 on plant growth, fruits and some nutrient contents and uptake by squash plants. Results showed that, the dry matter yield (shoots and leaves), physical fruit quality (length and diameter cm) and fruit yield (fresh and dry weight g. plant) were significantly increased by application of phosphorus rates and foliar spraying of zinc sources at all treatments, compared with the control; the highest values of theprevious parameter were recorded with Zn ammonium phosphate followed by Zn EDTA more than ZnSO4 and ZnCI2, compared with the control. Also, the best values of protein% and some nutrient contents and uptake were significantly increased due to the application of phosphorous rates and zinc sources at all treatments, compared with the control. Generally, from these results it can be concluded that the foliar application of phosphorus rate and foliar spraying of zinc sources improved all growth characteristics and nutrients uptake of squash plant.