Influence of Humic acid and Potassium levels on the performance of courgette crop

Abstract

Humic acid and potassium are important chemicals in agriculture which improve yield and quality of a crop. However, there is no proper concentration of these chemical for courgette crop. To study the influence and to optimize the level of these chemicals the current study “Influence of Humic acid and Potassium levels on the performance of courgette crop” was performed at AMK Research Farm Mardan, Pakistan during year 2021. The research consisted of two factors having Randomized complete block design (RCBD). Factor “A” was Potassium levels i.e. Control, 20, 25 and 30 kg ha^-1 while Factor “B” was Humic acid levels i.e., Control, 15, 20 and 25 mg L^-1. The results showed that potassium and Humic acid significantly affected yield and quality parameters of courgette crop. Among potassium levels 30 kgha^-1 recorded maximum leaf area (256.50cm²), leaf length (19.56 cm), number of flowers plant^-1 (11.08), number of fruits plant^-1 (6.08), fruit length (18.60 cm), fruit weight (277.75 g), fruit volume (262.75 cm³), fruit yield plot^-1 (11.13 kg), total fruit yield (12.37 t ha^-1), fruit firmness (12.16 kg cm^-2), ascorbic acid content (8.14 mg 100 g^-1) and early harvesting (40.42 days). In case of Humic acid the highest leaf area (255.17 cm²), leaf length (19.62 cm), number of flowers plant^-1 (10.92), number of fruits plant^-1 (6.00), fruit length (18.29 cm), fruit weight (272.83 g), fruit volume (261.00 cm³), fruit yield plot^-1 (11.21 kg), total fruit yield (12.46 t ha^-1), fruit firmness (12.61 kg cm^-2), ascorbic acid content (8.83 mg 100 g^-1), early flowering (19.83 days) and early harvesting (40.25 days) were noted in plots which were treated with 25 mg L^-1 Humic acid. It is concluded that potassium at 30 kg ha^-1 and Humic acid at the level of 25 mg L^-1 produced maximum yield and quality characteristics of courgette crop however, it was followed by 25 kg ha^-1 potassium and 20 mg L^-1 Humic acid in almost all parameters hence it may be suggested that potassium at 25 kg ha^-1 and Humic acid at 20 mg ^-1 may be applied for the production of courgette crop for more economical benefits in the climatic conditions of Mardan.

Keywords: Humic acid; Potassium; Performance of courgette crop

http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2025.140038