Effect of Irrigation Systems and Mulching on Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Production in Semi-Arid Areas

This study aimed to investigate the effect of two irrigation systems (surface drip SDI and subsurface drip SSDI), two types of soil plastic mulching (black plastic mulching BPM, and transparent mulching TM) plus a control treatment (no mulching C), and five levels of Elapsed time from germination to harvest (ETime); 58 days, 65 days, 72 days, 79 days & 86 days on the yield, growth parameters and water use efficiency (WUE) of summer Squash. The total fruit weight was almost the same for all treatments, but the distribution of fruit throughout the season were affected by the availability of excess water due to less evaporation caused by SSDI and the mulching. The maximum values of WUE were 2.01 kg /m3 for the treatment with SSDI and BPM treatment. This treatment shortened the growing season and gave most of the plant fruit production between 65 and 75 days elapsed time since transplanting ETime. The maximum fruit production was for the treatment with SD and TM.