the effects of intra and inter-row spaces and planting pattern on the yield components, seed and oil yield of pumpkin (cucurbita pepo l.)

in order to study the effects of intra and inter-row spaces and planting pattern on the yield components, seed and oil yield of pumpkin (cucurbita pepo l.), a field experiment was conducted as split-split plot based on randomized block design with three replications during 2009-2010 at the agricultural research station of ferdowsi university of mashhad, iran. two levels of inter-row space (1 and 2 m), two levels of intra-row space (20 and 40 cm) and two planting patterns (one and two ways) were allocated to main, sub and sub-sub plots, respectively. the results indicated that the effect of inter-row space on number of seeds per ha-1 was significant (p<0.05). the number of fruits and seeds per ha-1, seed and oil yield and oil percent were significantly (p<0.05) affected by intra-row space. the effect of planting pattern was significant (p<0.05) on the number of fruits per ha-1, seed and oil yield and oil. the interaction effect between inter and intra-row spaces were significant on the number of fruits and seeds per ha-1 and oil percent of pumpkin. the interaction effects between intra-row space and planting pattern on the number of fruits per ha-1 and oil percent in squash was significant. with increasing intra-row space, the seed yield decreased (from 697kg h-l to 631kg h-l). the highest and the lowest amounts of seed yield were observed in two and one way with 715 and 613 kg.ha-l, respectively. the positive significant correlation between the fruits per ha-1 and seeds and oil yield and seed yield and oil yield were observed. it seems that the arrangement of row space increased the fruit number and seed and oil yields of pumpkin due to decreasing of its vegetative growth.