Effect of plastic low tunnel on flowering and fruiting behaviour during off season of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2009-10 and 2010-11 to study the effect of low tunnel on flowering and fruiting behaviour during off season of summer squash var. Australian Green at farm of Bihar Agricultural College Sabour Bhagalpur. The experiment was laid in randomized block design with seven treatments in three replications. The treatments comprised the seven date of sowing i.e., 30th November under open field, 15th December under open field, 30tyh December under tunnel, 15thy January under tunnel;, 30th January under tunnel, 15th February under open field and 28th February under open field. Result was found to be significant in flowering and fruiting behaviour during off season of bottle gourd. Number of days taken to first female flower appearance (48.50 days), and first harvest of fruit (55.50 days) was minimum while, fruit length (36.20 cm) fruit girth (7.81cm), fruits/plant (8.0) fruits weight (0.970) and yield per hectare 4.25 (quintal) were maximum when the date of sowing was 30th December under low tunnel condition (T3).Plastic low tunnel force early flowering in off season.