Influence of CO2 applied with the irrigation water and plastic mulch on Summer Squash

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in Piracicaba, SP, in order to evaluate the effects of different carbon dioxide levels applied with irrigation water, associated or not to the mulch plastic, on yield of summer squash. The experimental design was in random blocks in split plot design, with the factor levels of CO₂ in the plot and the mulch plastic in split-plot. The treatments constituted on the following levels: 0; 59; 148 and 247 kg ha^-1 of CO₂. The irrigation was scheduled daily based on a tank class A, using a drip irrigation system. The leaf area, the number of fruit and the yield were evaluated. The levels of CO₂ and mulch plastic influenced the leaf area; consequently, it provided increment in the number of fruit and yield of summer squash. The best yield of 15, 433 kg ha^-1was obtained by 58.6 kg ha^-1 of CO₂ with the plastic mulch.