Influence of cattle manure and mycorrhiza fungi on fruit and grain yield of cucurbita pepo L. under water deficit stress

In order to evaluate the impact of cattle manure and mycorrhiza fungi on pumpkin plants (cucurbita pepo con Var. styriaca) under water deficit stress conditions, a split-factorial design was conducted as base of randomized complete block design with four replications. Irrigation interval (at three levels: 60, 120 and 180 mm based on cumulative evaporation from class A pan) as main plots that exerted on pre-flowering, cattle manure (at three levels: 0, 15 and 30 t/ha) and mycorrhiza fungi (at two levels: with and without application) as sub plots were considered. The results showed that irrigation factor had significant effect on grain number, grain yield, fruit yield, fruit diameter and fruit pericarp diameter (p < 0.01). so that irrigation after 60 mm evaporation caused to increase fruit yield and fruit pericarp diameter. Whereas irrigation after 120 mm evaporation had most grain number (314 grain/m2) and grain yield (524.3 kg/ha). The manure treatment had significant affect on fruit yield and fruit pericarp diameter (p < 0.01). So that consumption of 30 t/ha manure led to significant increase on these traits. Interaction of irrigation and manure factors was significant on fruit diameter and the highest value belonged to irrigation after 60 mm evaporation with consumption of 30 t/ha manure. Mycorrhiza fungi had significant effect on grain number and grain yield (p < 0.05). So that application of mycorrhiza fungi increased grain number (240.55 grain/m2) and grian yield (380.55 kg/ha).