Two field experiments were carried out during the two successive summer seasons of 2016 and 2017 at the experimental vegetable farm of the faculty of Agriculture Moshtohor, Benha University, Egypt to investigate the response of squash plant Cv. Eskandrani to mineral, organic and bio-N fertilization on fruit yield and its components as well as physical and chemical fruit quality. The experimental treatments of mineral, organic and bio fertilization in single or combined application were 100% mineral nitrogen fertilizer from recommend dose (200kg ammonium nitrate (33%N) per feddan), 75% mineral nitrogen plus 25% organic manure in the form of compost, 50% mineral nitrogen plus 50% organic manure, 25% mineral nitrogen plus 75% organic manure, 100% organic manure (compost), 100% organic manure (compost) plus addition of phosphorine at rate of 500 g/fed plus Nitrobein bio fertilizer at rate of 400g/fed from each of them added once during season, Bio fertilizer only (phosphorein at rate 500g/fed plus nitrobein at rate of 400g/fed), 75% mineral nitrogen plus 25 % organic manure (compost) plus bio fertilizer (phosphorein plus nitrobein), 50% mineral nitrogen plus 50% organic plus bio fertilization, 25% mineral nitrogen plus 75% organic manure plus bio fertilizer and 100% mineral nitrogen plus bio fertilization (phosphorein at rate of 500g/fed plus Nitrobein at rate of 400g/fed). Results showed that, there were significant differences among the studied nitrogen fertilizer treatments on all determined yield and its components and fruit quality during the two seasons of growth. In this concern, fertilizing squash plants with 100% mineral nitrogen fertilizer only reflected the highest values of number of fruit / plant, fruit yield / plant and total fruit yield / fed compared with other nitrogen fertilizer treatments. The hightest values of fruit length, diameter and weight were recorded from 100% organic manure treatments, and 75% mineral nitrogen plus 25% organic manure |
