USE OF CYTOKININS AND COMPOSTING TO IMPROVE THE AGRONOMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS OF CAIGUA (CYCLANTHERA PEDATA L.)

Abstract

The scarcity of nutrients and synthetic fertilizers reduced crop productivity, increasing production costs and prompting scientists to seek new technologies to ensure high-quality output. In this context, using cytokinins with organic fertilizers ensued to assess their effects on caigua (Cyclanthera pedata L.) production. For this purpose, land preparation for planting comprised two levels of cytokinins (100 and 150 ml, Anthesis Plus per 200 L of water) and organic compost at 10 t/ha, then spread across the land. Results showed that adding cytokinins and compost manure, alone and in combination, significantly improved the agronomic and physiological characteristics of caigua. However, the combined application of compost manure and cytokinins dramatically enriched the caigua plant length, diameter, fruits per plant, and fruit dry and fresh weight per plant up to 85.0%, 46.9%, 81.8%, 80.6%, and 83.2%, respectively, in comparison with the control treatment. Similarly, chlorophyll contents, quantum yield, photosynthetically active radiation, fluorescence yield, and electron transport reaction increased at 68.8%, 66.4%, 79.2%, 51.1%, and 74.0%, respectively, with combined application as compared with control. Furthermore, the co-addition of composting and cytokinins also upgraded the biochemical composition versus the control. The presented results suggested that applying a mixture of compost manure and cytokinins may help enhance caigua plant growth, yield, and quality and improve soil characteristics.