Effect of Foliar Application of Urea and Amino Acids Mixtures as Antioxidants on Growth, Yield and Characteristics of Squash

Two field experiments were conducted out during the seasons of 2006 and 2007 at the experimental station of Ministry of Agriculture at Baramoon Farm, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, to study the response of squash plant to the foliar application by some chemical materials (urea at rate of 1% an 2%, Amino-mix at rate 500ppm and 1000ppm and amino-vit plus at rate 500 and 1000ppm) as an antioxidants. Generally, the foliar application by urea as antioxidant resulted in vigor squash plant as expressed by plant length, average leaves and/or shoots number per plant as well as the fresh and dry weight of whole plant and its leaves and shoot compared with the foliar application by other Antioxidant materials. Moreover, the significant heaviest tons and best fruit properties of total and early yield were recorded with urea application. Applied antioxidants gave more vigor plant growth and yield of squash in comparison with the control treatment (No antioxidant). The foliar application by amino-vit plus material caused an enhancement effect on squash plant growth and its fruits yield, this effect was less than that obtained when urea applied, but was more than that which result when amino-mix. The statistical analysis of the obtained data reveals that, there were no great differences within used the amino-mix and/or amino vit plus regarding to their effects on growth yield and its parameters.