Response of growth, yield and quality indicators of three zucchini hybrids to bentonite amendment under irrigation regimes

Abstract

A field experiment was performed during the 2024 growing season at the University of Kufa to investigate the effects of bentonite clay and irrigation regimes on zucchini hybrids. Major challenges lie in enhancing crop resilience under water-scarce environments while maintaining soil health and sustainable productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Three water requirements (50, 75 and 100) of the actual water needs were applied as main plots on three zucchini hybrids as subplots (Amjad, Kavili and Wisam). Bentonite clay was incorporated into the soil at three levels (0, 75, 150 g.plant-1) and set up as sub-subplots. A split-split-plot system was adopted based on a completely randomized block design. The full water requirement significantly improved growth and yield, including plant height 94.18 cm, fruit length 13.76 cm, early yield 12.56 kg plant-1 and total yield 50.25 t ha-1. The irrigation level at 75 achieved a remarkable enhancement compared to the level at 50, resulting in reasonable plant growth and production, which proves to be a suitable approach under water scarcity while reducing yield losses. Kavili hybrid recorded the highest significant averages for the number of branches, leaf area and total yield of 1.86 branches plant-1, 1.45 m2.plant-1 and 10.651 t.ha-1, consecutively. Amjad hybrid recorded the highest average fruit length 13.66 cm, whereas Wissam hybrid had the highest average fruit weight 136.13 g. Bentonite amendments at 150 g.plant-1 had significant improvements in the plant yield 1.157 kg.plant-1, early yield 11.629 t.ha-1 and total yield 46.26 t.ha-1. The triple interaction represented by W3H2B2 realized significant improvements in the plant height, leaf area, dry weight, plant yield and total yield, 101.00 cm, 1.72 m2. plant-1, 363.00 g.plant-1, 1.37 kg.plant-1 and 54.54 t.ha-1, in the same sequence.