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Effect of Irrigation and Artificial Pollination on the Storability of Pumpkin

M. A. Malek
Lecturer
Department of Horticulture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

A. F. M. Sharfuddin
Professor
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Myrnensingh, Bangladesh

M. F. Mondal
Lecturer
Department of Horticulture and Post Harvest Technology, SAU

M. H. Kabir
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted in the laboratory of the Horticulture Department of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from April to August 2001 to investigate the relationship among pollination, irrigation and storability of pumpkin. After five months storage, the percentage of weight loss of pumpkin was found the highest (28.49%), about 60% more in case of irrigation at 15 days interval than that of control treatment (12.71%). There was no rotting pumpkin was found in any of the treatments during the five months of storage period. No combined effect was found among the levels of irrigation, the methods of pollination and the storage period of pumpkin.

Keywords: Pollination, Storability, Pumpkin

Location: Horticulture Farm of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-04-2000

End Date: 00-08-2001

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Pumpkin

Objectives:

Objective of this study was to determine the effect of irrigation and artificial pollination on the storability of pumpkin in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from April 2000 to August 2001. The land was thoroughly prepared by ploughing and the plots were raised by 10 cm from the ground level. Four pits of 60 x 60 x 50 cm size were prepared in each plot at a spacing of 2m plant to plant. The following manure and fertilizers were given: Cow dung 15 t/h, Urea 150 kg/h, TSP 125 kg/h and MP 100 kg/h. The experiment was done by randomized complete block deign (RCBD). There were 3 irrigation levels (0, 15, 30 days interval) and 3 pollination methods (natural, artificial and natural-plus-artificial) with three replications. The whole experimental plot was divided into 3 blocks. Each block was divided into 9 plots where 9 treatment combinations were randomly distributed. The size of each unit plot was 16m² (4 m x 4 m) where 4 pits were accommodated maintaining a distance of 2 m from one pit to another. Each block had thus 36 pits and the whole experiment had in total 108 pits. Seeds of pumpkin cv. Baromasi were sown. Four to five seeds were dibbled 2-3 cm deep in soils of each pit on 14th November 2000. When plants were 8-10 cm long, they were thinned out to 2 healthy plants per pit. Weeding was accomplished as and when necessary. Rice straws were used under each fruit to protect them from coming in contact with soil to prevent soil pests and diseases attack. Irrigation was started giving 15 days after seed emergence as per treatments. In natural-plus-artificial pollination treatment, pollination was done by hand. Artificial pollination was practiced by picking up a fully open male flower, detaching carefully the petals and shaking stamen over the female flower ensuring proper shedding of the pollen on the pistil of the female flower. After pollination the female flowers were left exposed. In case of artificial pollination treatment, the female flowers were bagged with polythene before anthesis to avoid possibilities of natural pollination. As soon as the flower in the bag was seen to be fully opened, removing polythene bag as per the method followed in case of natural-plus-artificial pollination did artificial pollination. Immediately after pollination the flower was bagged again and kept in this condition until the petals were closed down. The pollination was done in the morning between 5.00 to 7.00 a.m. In all the cases, the male flowers used for pollination were collected from the same plant where the female flower was situated. A storage house was built up at the Horticulture Farm for the storage experiment. Proper arrangement for ventilation was kept inside the house. The floor of the house was prepared with earth and the surrounding walls were made with bamboo 'Chatai'. Inside the house several bamboo shelves was made to keep pumpkin for storage. Fully matured pumpkins were stored as per treatment of the experiment for 150 days. The pumpkins were placed under the storage treatments on 20 March 2001. The pumpkins in storage were checked at 15 days intervals The collected data on various parameters were statistically analyzed using Least Significance Differences (LSD) package programme. The mean for all the treatments was calculated and analyses of variances for all the characters were performed by F-variance test. The significance of difference between the pairs of treatments means was evaluated by LSD test at 5% and 1% levels of probability

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 16(1) : 47-51, 2005; ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the experiment, there was no decay pumpkin found in the storage. All pumpkins of all treatments were found intact and in edible condition except a few discoloration. So, in all cases pumpkin may be stored successfully at least for 5 months. No rotting of pumpkin was observed during five months of storage. It is evident from the results that, the treatment of control irrigation and natural-plus-artificial pollination would be very beneficial for maximizing storability of pumpkin. Following this production technique, farmers would gain a high profit by selling increased pumpkin at high price particularly during rainy season of vegetables lean period.

Knowledge Management: Journal