Enhancing Cucurbita pepo Growth, Productivity, and Fruit Quality using Bacilli Strains and Cyanobacteria Treatments

Abstract

Two successful field experiments were carried out during 2020and 2021 growing seasons to evaluate the effect of bio fertilizers; Bacillus amyloliquifaciens (BA), Bacillus megaterium (BM) and cyanobacteria inoculation on the vegetative growth, growth parameters and plant chemical content of Cucurbita pepo (Squash) crop. The study of mixed inoculation with both Bacillus strains, and cyanobacteria was found to improve vegetative growth, plant chemical contents and positive microbial activity in the soil Rhizosphere in comparison to un-inoculated plants. Soil available nutrients (N and K) increased significantly with BA and BM combined with cyanobacteria while available phosphorus gave most increase with BM.