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Effect of Plastic Mulch on Squash ( Cucurbita pepo L.): Germination, Root Distribution, and Soil Temperature under Trickle Irrigation in the Jordan Valley
Author(s) -
Ghawi I.,
Battikhi A. M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.1988.tb00319.x
Subject(s) - mulch , plastic mulch , cucurbita pepo , squash , canopy , agronomy , irrigation , transplanting , growing season , drip irrigation , germination , environmental science , horticulture , sowing , biology , botany
An experiment with squash ( Cucurbita pepo L.) was conducted at the University of Jordan Research Station, located in the Jordan Valley in Jordan during the 1984 and 1985/86 seasons. Its objectives were to determine the effects of different plastic mulch using drip irrigation on soil temperature, root growth distribution, and production dates, Earliness in picking dates under mulch was obtained during the relatively warm 1985/86 season, where picking started 13 days earlier under mulch. Root weights, secondary root lengths, and horizontal root distribution were not significantly different between treatments, during each season. Tap roots were not significantly different between treatments during the 1984 season, yet those under transparent mulch were significantly higher (5% level) from those under bare soil conditions, during the 1985/86 season. Density of plant canopy influenced mulching effect on soil temperature. High plant canopy under mulch prevented solar radiation from increasing soil temperature. Whereas, higher soil temperature was obtained under non‐mulched conditions when compared to the mulched ones. This was most probably due to relatively low vegetative cover.