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Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water

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Article in Journal of Integrative Agriculture November 2014

DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60611-5

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Journal of Integrative Agriculture
2014, 13(11): 2518-2526 November 2014
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer
Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities in a Semi-Arid
Agricultural Area

Yasemin Kuslu, Ustun Sahin, Fatih M Kiziloglu and Selcuk Memis

Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Atatrk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey

Abstract

Fruit yield, yield components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and irrigation water use efficiency
(IWUE) of summer squash responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated with a field study. Irrigations were done
when the total evaporated water from a Class A pan was about 30 mm. Different irrigation quantities were adjusted using three
different plant-pan coefficients (Kcp, 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and 70% (Kcp3)). Results indicated that lower irrigation
quantities provided statistically lower yield and yield components. The highest seasonal fruit yield (80.0 t ha-1) was determined
in the Kcp1 treatment, which applied the highest volume of irrigation water (452.9 mm). The highest early fruit yield, average
fruit weight and fruit diameter, length and number per plant were also determined in the Kcp1 treatment, with values of 7.25
t ha-1, 264.1 g, 5.49 cm, 19.95 cm and 10.92, respectively. Although the IWUE value was the highest in the Kcp1 treatment
(176.6 kg ha-1 mm-1), it was statistically similar to the value for Kcp3 treatment (157.1 kg ha-1 mm-1). Total phenolic content
and antioxidant activity of fruits was higher in the Kcp1 (44.27 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg-1 fresh sample) and in the
Kcp2 (84.75%) treatments, respectively. Major (Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and trace (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B) mineral contents
of squash fruits were the highest in the Kcp2 treatment, with the exception of P, Ca and Cu. Mineral contents and total phenolic
content were significantly affected by irrigation quantities, but antioxidant activity was not affected. It can be concluded that
the Kcp1 treatment was the most suitable for achieving higher yield and IWUE. However, the Kcp2 treatment will be the most
suitable due to the high fruit quality and relatively high yield in water shortage conditions.

Key words: summer squash, drip irrigation, irrigation water use efficiency, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, fruit
mineral content

effective irrigation schedule is important for saving water

resources in this region, as this contributes to maximising
INTRODUCTION profits by minimising the use of water and energy (Evans
et al. 1996). Irrigation schedules have important roles in
Turkey is a country on the north coast of the Mediter- irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) in vegetable crop
ranean region. Agriculture is the largest user of fresh production (Zotarelli et al. 2008). Knowing the water
water in the Mediterranean region (Katerji et al. 2008; requirements of plants is the main parameter required
Alexandridis et al. 2009). Turkey is also a country with for effective scheduling. Climatic factors (radiation,
limited and strategic water resources in terms of the ge- temperature, humidity and wind speed) are some of the
ography of the Middle East (Bilen 2009). Therefore, an main factors affecting water use in plants. Evaporation

Received 15 April, 2012 Accepted 22 July, 2013

Correspondence Yasemin Kuslu, Tel: +90-442-2313466, +90-532-2400065, E-mail: ykuslu@atauni.edu.tr

2014, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60611-5
Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities 2519

pans supply the evaporation value as an indicator of the 80, 100 and 120% of estimated crop evapotranspiration
combined effect of climatic factors on an open water (ETo)) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was significantly affect-
surface (Savva and Frenken 2002), and the evaporation ed by increasing irrigation quantities. Although yield
value from pans can be easily measured. As a result, was increased at higher irrigation levels (100% and 120%
pans are widely used for irrigation scheduling. Although ETo), it was significantly reduced at lower irrigation
various pan types exist, the Class A pan is the most fre- levels (60% and 80% ETo). Also, water use efficiency
quently used type. A study conducted by Al-Omran et al. (WUE) values were generally increased with irrigation
(2004) in Saudi Arabia indicated that the pan evaporation quantity, but decreased at the highest irrigation level.
method was an acceptable method in estimating squash At least 49 nutrients (water, carbohydrates, protein,
evapotranspiration. lipids-fat, minerals and vitamins) are required to meet the
Squash is considered one of the most important veg- metabolic needs of humans (Welch and Graham 2004).
etable crops in the world due to it being a commercial The main source of all nutrients required for humans is
crop for fields and greenhouses. Summer squash is agriculture (Welch 2002), and vegetables are important
produced in most Mediterranean countries as one of the minerals sources for human nutrition (James and Emma-
main vegetables (Mohammad 2004), and is also a widely nuel 2011). There are numerous functions of minerals
grown and consumed vegetable in Turkey. The planted in human biochemistry and physiology (Mayer 1997).
area of summer squash in Turkey was 10 053 ha in 2011 Squash and its seeds, in terms of vitamins, protein, fat,
and production was 317 705 t (TSI 2013). It is grown carbohydrate and mineral substances, are important in
during spring, summer and fall seasons by using both human nutrition (Paksoy and Aydin 2004).
drip and furrow irrigation methods (Amer 2011). Khalil Epidemiological studies have shown that the con-
et al. (1996) and Amer (2011) found that the total yield sumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is asso-
of squash was significantly higher for the drip irrigation ciated with a reduced incidence of chronic diseases such
method compared to the furrow irrigation method. as diabetes and hypertension. The health-promoting
Summer squash has a shallow rooting depth and is benefits of plants have been attributed to their bioactive
sensitive to water in the soil. Excessive moisture or water secondary metabolites such as phenolics (Randhir et al.
stress may damage fruits and roots (Ertek et al. 2004; 2008). Phenolic compounds are considered beneficial
Amer 2011); therefore, well drained soils are suitable for human health because they decrease the risk of de-
for summer squash. The soil water depletion fraction generative diseases by the reduction of oxidative stress
for the prevention of stress has to be below 0.50 (Savva and the inhibition of macromolecular oxidation (Kubola
and Frenken 2002). and Siriamornpun 2008). Also, phenolic antioxidants
A number of researchers have examined the effects play important roles in delaying the development of
of irrigation quantities on yield, yield components and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer,
water use efficiency (WUE). Amer (2011) showed that inflammatory bowel syndrome and Alzheimers disease
the fruit yield of squash grown in northern Egypt was (Chun et al. 2005).
significantly affected by irrigation quantity. Maximum The purpose of this study was to evaluate the irri-
yields, fruit numbers, diameters and lengths were ob- gation water use efficiency (IWUE), fruit yield, yield
tained from well-watered treatments (1.0 crop evapotran- components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content
spiration (ETc)). The yield and yield component values and antioxidant activity of summer squash for different
were decreased by an excess (1.25 and 1.5 ETc) or deficit irrigation quantities.
(0.50 and 0.75 ETc) of irrigation quantities. The highest
summer squash yield was obtained from an irrigation RESUlTS AND DISCUSSION
treatment with a plant-pan coefficient of 0.85 in Van,
Turkey, as reported by Ertek et al. (2004). Irrigation
treatments with lower plant-pan coefficients (0.45 and
Evaporation, precipitation and irrigation water
0.65) provided lower yields, fruit numbers, diameters
amount
and lengths. Al-Omran et al. (2005) indicated that the
fruit yield of squash irrigated at four irrigation levels (60, The Class A pan evaporation and precipitation values

2014, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

2520 Yasemin Kuslu et al.

measured in the experimental area are shown in Fig. 250

Class A pan evaporation
1. The total evaporation was 657.5 mm and total pre- 200 Precipitation
cipitation was 124.3 mm during the growing period

Value (mm)
150
(28 May-31 August) of summer squash. The seasonal
difference between precipitation and pan evaporation 100

values was 533.2 mm. Monthly differences between

50
precipitation and pan evaporation values increased
from the beginning of the growing period to the end 0
May June July August
of the growing period. Therefore, water production Growing period
was an important input for summer squash during
the growing period. The first and last irrigation dates Fig. 1 Monthly Class A pan evaporation and precipitation values
were 3rd June and 27th August, respectively. In total, during growing period (28 May-31 August) of summer squash.

twenty irrigations were performed during the irrigation

period. While the average irrigation interval was 4.3 Kcp1 Kcp2 Kcp3
days during the irrigation period, it was shorter than 500
y(Kcp1)=0.032x2+2.848x-7.524; R2=0.997**
4.3 days in last two months of the growing period due 450
y(Kcp2)=0.030x2+2.088x-3.198; R2=0.996**
Cumulative irrigation quantity (mm)

to the fact that evaporation was higher in these months 400

y(Kcp3)=0.028x2+1.185x+2.972; R2=0.997**
(Fig. 1). Therefore, cumulative irrigation quantities for 350
300
all treatments increased in a polynomial manner during
250
the irrigation period (Fig. 2). Plant-pan coefficient
200
(Kcp) was selected as 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and
150
70% (Kcp3) of evaporated water from a Class A pan.
100
The highest amount of irrigation water (452.9 mm) was
50
applied to Kcp1 treatment. The irrigation water amount 0
applied to Kcp3 treatment was the lowest (297.1 mm) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Irrigation period (d)
(Fig. 2). The irrigation quantities applied to the Kcp2
and Kcp3 treatments were 16.6 and 34.4% lower than
Fig. 2 The cumulative irrigation quantities applied to treatments
the Kcp1 treatment, respectively. during irrigation period (3 June-27 August) of summer squash. Plant-
pan coefficient (Kcp) was selected as 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and
70% (Kcp3) of evaporated water from a Class A pan.
Yield and yield components
water applications caused lower yields and yield com-
The first and last harvest dates were the 9 July and 31 ponents due to plant stress in the drier soil. Total fruit
August, respectively; in total, 25 harvests were done yields of the Kcp2 and Kcp3 treatments were 28.5 and
during this period. The average harvesting interval was 41.7% lower than the value for the Kcp1 treatment,
2.1 days during the harvesting period. The first three respectively. Higher fruit numbers per plant and
harvests were considered the early fruit yield. Fruit bigger fruits provided a higher total fruit yield in the
yield ratios for all treatments during the harvesting Kcp1 treatment. Early fruit yield was more affected
period were almost constant due to the fact that the by irrigation quantities compared to total fruit yield.
cumulative fruit yields of all treatments increased lin- The early yields of the Kcp2 and Kcp3 treatments
early during the harvesting period (Fig. 3). The yield were 39.0 and 50.8% lower than value of the Kcp1
and yield components were significantly affected by treatment, respectively (Table 1). The fruit diameters
irrigation quantities (Table 1). Total fruit yield, early were decreased by 9.7 and 11.1% and the fruit lengths
fruit yield, fruit number per plant, fruit diameter, fruit were decreased by 2.2 and 3.8% in the Kcp2 and Kcp3
length and average fruit weight of summer squash were treatments when compared with the Kcp1 treatment,
the highest for the Kcp1 treatment (Table 1). Lower respectively. Therefore, it could be said that fruit di-

2014, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities 2521

ameters compared to fruit lengths were more affected Table 1 Fruit yield, yield components and irrigation water use
efficiency (IWUE) of summer squash
by water quantity. The fruit numbers per plant for the
Treatments1)
Parameters
Kcp2 and Kcp3 treatments were 19.8 and 32.7% lower Kcp1 Kcp2 Kcp3
than value of the Kcp1, respectively. These results Total fruit yield (t ha-1) 80.0 a 57.22 b 46.66 c
Early fruit yield (t ha-1) 7.25 a 4.42 ab 3.57 b
showed that increasing irrigation quantities on squash Fruit number per plant 10.92 a 8.76 b 7.35 b
fruit yield and yield components had a significant pos- Fruit diameter (cm) 5.49 a 4.96 b 4.88 b
Fruit length (cm) 19.95 a 19.52 b 19.20 b
itive effect. Also, a positive linear relationship was Average fruit weight (g) 264.1 a 235.7 b 229.6 b
determined between irrigation quantity and total fruit IWUE (kg ha-1 mm-1) 176.6 a 151.5 b 157.1 ab
1)
Plant-pan coefficient (Kcp) was selected as 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and 70%
yield in this study (Fig. 4). Similar results were also
(Kcp3) of evaporated water from a Class A pan.
obtained in many other studies. Amer (2011) found that Means marked with same lowercase in each row do not differ at the least 0.05%.
squash yield, fruit weight, number, diameter, and length The same as below.

were significantly decreased by the reduction of applied

irrigation water according to adequately watered condi- 100
tions (100% of ETc). Ertek et al. (2004) concluded that
irrigation quantities had significant effects on yield and 80

Total fruit yield (Mg ha-1)

yield components of summer squash and relationships
60
between the yield and yield components with irrigation
water amount were positively linear. Al-Omran et al. 40
y=0.213x-18.76
(2005) determined that squash fruit yield was higher for R2=0.948**
20
non-stressed irrigation conditions (100 and 120% of es-
timated crop evapotranspiration) compared to stressed 0
irrigation conditions (60 and 80% of estimated crop 200 300 400 500
Irrigation quantity (mm)
evapotranspiration). El-Gindy et al. (2009) showed
that a higher irrigation quantity (80% of ETc) provided
Fig. 4 Relationship between irrigation quantity and total fruit yield
higher fresh yields, fruit diameters, fruit numbers per of summer squash.
plant and fruit lengths in drip-irrigated summer squash
compared to those with a lower irrigation quantity (60%
in the yield of squash that was drip-irrigated with 100,
of ETc). El-Dewiny (2011) indicated that reducing the
irrigation amount from 100 to 85% provided an increase 85, 70 and 50% of ETc. However, increasing water
deficits decreased summer squash yield.

Kcp1 Kcp2 Kcp3

90
Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE)
y(Kcp1)=1.532x+3.049; R2=0.992**
80 y(Kcp2)=1.064x+1.499; R2=0.991**

70
y(Kcp3)=0.861x+1.448 ; R2=0.990** The IWUE was significantly changed with irrigation
Cumulative fruit yield (Mg ha-1)

60
quantities. The highest IWUE was found to be 176.6
kg ha-1 mm-1 with the Kcp1 treatment. The high IWUE
50
value of the Kcp1 treatment can be explained by the high
40
fruit yield of the Kcp1 treatment (Table 1). The IWUE
30
value for the Kcp3 treatment was 157.1 kg ha-1 mm-1.
20 However, there was no statistical difference between
10 Kcp1 and Kcp3 treatments. Besides the reduction of fruit
0 yield of squash, a higher reduction of applied water also
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Harvesting period (d) caused an increase in the IWUE value of Kcp3 treatment.
The lowest IWUE value was determined for the Kcp2
Fig. 3 The cumulative fruit yields for treatments during harvesting
treatment as 151.5 kg ha-1 mm-1. The IWUE value of the
period (9 July-31 August) of summer squash. Kcp2 treatment was significantly lower than the Kcp1

2014, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

2522 Yasemin Kuslu et al.

treatment. Generally, according to the results of different Table 2 Mineral contents (g kg-1 dry weight) of summer squash fruits
Treatments
studies, lower water treatments provided higher IWUE Minerals
Kcp1 Kcp2 Kcp3
values. Ertek et al. (2004) obtained the highest IWUE Major minerals
Na 0.92 b 0.98 a 0.82 c
values for summer squash under the lowest irrigation N 24.2 b 24.5 a 23.6 c
conditions (45% of Class A pan evaporation). El-Gindy P 6.91 a 6.24 b 6.85 a
K 32.2 c 34.5 a 33.1 b
et al. (2009) determined that the IWUE of drip-irrigated Ca 18.4 a 17.8 b 17.1 c
summer squash with lower water amounts (60% of ETc) Mg 4.23 b 4.34 a 4.08 c
S 3.23 c 3.55 a 3.42 b
was higher than for those irrigated with higher water Trace minerals
amounts (80% of ETc). El-Dewiny (2011) showed that Fe 0.22 c 0.29 a 0.24 b
Cu 0.024 b 0.021 b 0.033 a
the lowest IWUE value was obtained for full-irrigated
Mn 0.036 b 0.040 a 0.032 c
squash and that IWUE values increased with increase Zn 0.123 c 0.148 a 0.141 b
B 0.013 b 0.015 a 0.012 c
water deficit. On the contrary, Al-Omran et al. (2005)
indicated that water use efficiency was higher under
higher water applied conditions (100 and 120% of ETo) However, Ca and Na contents in this study were higher
compared to lower water applied conditions (60 and according to the values of Rouphael and Colla (2005,
80% of ETo). 2009). On the contrary, the values of P, Ca, Mg, Na,
Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn minerals determined in this study
Fruit mineral contents were higher than the values obtained in the pulp of
winter squash by Valenzuela et al. (2011).

Minerals in squash fruits were evaluated into two

groups as major minerals (Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity
and trace minerals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B). Irrigation
quantities significantly affected major and trace mineral Total phenolic contents (TPC) of summer squash are
contents of summer squash fruits (Table 2). While the presented in Table 3. TPC was determined in compar-
highest Na, N, K, Mg and S contents were determined ison with standard gallic acid and the results expressed
as 0.98, 24.5, 34.5, 4.34 and 3.55 g kg-1 in the Kcp2 in terms of g gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg-1 fresh
treatment, the highest P and Ca contents were deter- sample. The total phenolic contents of summer squash
mined as 6.91 and 18.4 g kg-1 in the Kcp1 treatment. were in the range of 36.60-44.27 g GAE mg-1 fresh
All trace minerals, except Cu, were the highest for the sample. The highest content of total phenolic compounds
Kcp2 treatment; Cu content was the highest for the was detected in the squash extract of Kcp1 treatment,
Kcp3 treatment. These changes in the mineral contents whereas the lowest content was measured in the squash
of summer squash fruits could be explained with the extract of Kcp3 treatment. There was no statistically
available water amount in the soil. Martnez-Ballesta significant difference between the phenolic contents
et al. (2010) reported that one of the environmental of treatments of Kcp1 and Kcp2. But, value of Kcp3
stresses affecting mineral content is drought. Also, treatment was significantly lower than others.
the chemistry of the soil can be affected by the water For determination of the antioxidant capacity, we
amount in the soil. Mayer (1997) indicated that the used the -carotene bleaching assay. This method is
availability to plants of minerals in the soil solution commonly used for antioxidant activity determination of
and hence crop mineral contents can vary with soil plant extracts (Kato et al. 2009). Summer squash showed
chemistry. The results on squash mineral contents of a high antioxidant activity, which was lower than the
this research showed differences to the results of other reference antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
studies. The fruit N, P, K and Mg contents of summer (98.70%), in the -carotene bleaching assay (Table 3).
squash in this study were lower compared to the fruit The total antioxidant activity of summer squash ranged
mineral values of studies conducted for drip-irrigated from 82.04 to 84.75%, but there were no statistically
zucchini squash by Rouphael and Colla (2005, 2009). significant differences among the irrigation levels. The

2014, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities 2523

Table 3 Antioxidant activities (-carotene bleaching assay) and total MATERIAlS AND METhODS
phenolic content of summer squash extracts
Total antioxidant activity Total phenolic content
Treatments
(%) (g GAE mg-1 fresh sample)2)
Kcp1 82.04 44.27 a
Experimental site, soil and weather properties
Kcp2 84.75 43.94 a
Kcp3 82.78 36.60 b
BHA1) 98.70 - The study was conducted in 2010 at the Agricultural Research
1)
BHA, butylated hydroxyanisole. Station of Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey (3943N and
2)
GAE, gallic acid equivalent. 4114E, 1 793 m a.s.l.). The experimental region has a semi-
arid climate. During the growing season (28 May-31 August),
the mean temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, daily
antioxidant effect is mainly due to phenolic compounds sunshine, total evaporation and total precipitation were 18.3C,
(flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phenolic diterpenes) 54.1%, 3.3 m s-1, 9.7 h, 657.5 mm and 124.3 mm, respectively.
(Javanmardi et al. 2003). While precipitation and evaporation data were measured with
a standard pluviometer and a Class A pan, respectively, which
were placed in the experimental area, others were collected at
CONClUSION the Erzurum weather station which located 2.5 km far from
the experimental site.
The soil of the experimental region is Aridisol, according
In this study, different irrigation quantities calculated to the US Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 1992), and the
according to 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and 70% (Kcp3) experimental field soil is medium textured. Some physical and
chemical soil properties determined according to the methods
of evaporated water from a Class A pan were investi-
by Klute (1986) and Page et al. (1982) are given in Table 4.
gated on summer squash. The applied seasonal water The amount of available water for a soil depth of 60 cm is 87.6
amounts, the total fruit yield and early fruit yield in the mm in the experimental area.
Kcp1 treatment were significantly higher than the others.
Also, fruit diameter, length, and number per plant, and Table 4 Some physical and chemical properties of experimental
the average fruit weight were the highest in the Kcp1 field soil
Soil depth (cm)
treatment, and the lower yield and yield components Properties
0-30 30-60
in the Kcp3 treatment were determined due to squash Texture Clay loam Loam
being a sensitive vegetable to water stress in soil. The Clay (%) 29.8 25.7
Silt (%) 35.3 34.2
IWUE was affected for both yield and irrigation quantity. Sand (%) 34.9 40.1
Therefore, despite the Kcp1 treatment providing a higher Bulk density (g cm-3) 1.34 1.38
Field capacity (Pw) 30.1 27.4
IWUE value, this was not statistically different from the Wilting point (Pw) 18.7 17.3
IWUE value of treatment Kcp3. pH 7.64 7.43
Electrical conductivity (dS m-1) 1.35 1.63
The mineral intake of plants from the soil solution was Carbonates (%) 2.24 1.98
affected by irrigation quantities. Fruit Na, N, K, Mg, S, Organic C (g kg-1) 1.68 1.05

Fe, Mn, Zn and B contents were the highest in the Kcp2

treatment. Furthermore, P and Ca contents in the Kcp1
Experimental design and aplications
treatment and Cu content in the Kcp3 treatment were the
highest. The highest total phenolic content and antiox-
idant activity was obtained in the Kcp1 and Kcp2 treat- The experiment was conducted with three replicates.
Experimental plots were arranged as 8.4 m long and 2.4 m
ments, respectively. However, there were no statistically
wide. Plots were surrounded by a 1.5 m dry area to prevent
significant differences between irrigation treatments for the passage of water from adjacent plots. Summer squash
total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. (Cucurbita pepo L.) hybrid Eskenderany variety seedlings
From the results of this study, Kcp1 treatment had were planted in 4 rows in each plot on 28 May. The planting
the highest yield and IWUE. Therefore, 100% Kcp distances were 60 cm60 cm, both between and within rows,
and there were 56 plants in each plot. Before planting, during
was recommended for summer squash grown in field
the soil preparation, manure was applied over the whole area at
conditions, even though 85% Kcp may be suitable for a rate of 30 t ha-1. No pesticide was applied during the growing
better quality summer squash, especially in regions of period, and required hoeing was done by hand.
water deficit. Groundwater that stored in a pool was used as irrigation

2014, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

2524 Yasemin Kuslu et al.

water. The pH value of the water was 7.35 and there was 1.00 Kcp1 Kcp2 Kcp3
no salinity or sodium risk. Irrigation water was applied 0.90
using a drip irrigation system consisting of a control unit 0.80
and distribution lines. The required operation pressure 0.70
was provided by a centrifuge pump. The control unit had

Wetting factor
0.60
a screen filter, a flow meter, a pressure gauge and valves.
0.50
Polyethylene (PE) manifolds of 50 mm in diameter were
0.40
placed along the edge of each plot, and the PE driplines (lineer
low density polyethylene round pipe, with two outlets and the 0.30

manufacturing coefficient variation (CV)<3%) had in-line 0.20

type round emitters with a distance of 0.60 m and a diameter 0.10
of 16 mm. The flow rate of each emitter was 4 L h-1 under an 0.00
operating pressure of 0.1 MPa. Driplines were placed near each 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Irrigation period (d)
crop row in the experimental plots, resulting in 4 driplines on
each plot. Irrigation water was applied to the plots according
to the calculated irrigation times; irrigations were manually Fig. 5 The wetting factor (P) for each Kcp during the growing season.
controlled with valves on the manifolds.
Irrigation scheduling was based on Class A pan evaporation.
Irrigations were performed when the total amount of evaporated second step: 180C, 90% RF, 10 min and third step: 100C,
water from the Class A pan located near the experiment field 40% RF, 10 min) in a microwave unit (Berghof, Germany)
was about 30 mm. The evaporation values from the Class A (Mertens 2005a). Major and trace minerals were determined
pan were measured with a manual ruler that had an accuracy by using an ICP OES spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer, USA)
of 1 mm in a stilling well that is situated in the pan near one (Mertens 2005b). Total nitrogen content was determined by
edge. For the calculation of the required irrigation water the Micro-Kjeldahl method (Bremner and Mulvaney 1982).
amount, the below pan evapotranspiration equation (eq.) 1 For phenolic and antioxidant analysis, 10 g of the squash
was used (Ertek 2011): pulp was mixed with 10 mL ethanol and stirred for 6 h on a
I=EpanKcpP (1) magnetic stirrer. The suspension was filtered through Whatman
Where, I is the amount of required irrigation water (mm), No. l filter paper (Sengul et al. 2011). Final solutions were
Epan is the total evaporation amount (mm), Kcp is the plant- used as stock solutions for the analysis of antioxidant activity
pan coefficient, and P is the wetting factor. Three different and phenolic compounds and kept at -20C until analysis.
plant-pan coefficients (Kcp1: 100%; Kcp2: 85% and Kcp3: Total phenolics content in the ethanol extracts of squash
70%) were selected (Ertek et al. 2004). The wetting factor was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method
(P) according to growth rates was determined by the eq. 2 (Gulcin et al. 2002) with analytical grade gallic acid as a
(Ertek 2011): standard. Briefly, 1 mL of the solution (containing 1 mg
P=(Wp/Wb) (2) of sample) extract in water was pipetted into a flask. Then,
Where, Wp is the plant cover width (m), and Wb is the 46 mL of distilled water and 1 mL of Folin and Ciocalteus
plant row interval (m). reagent was added and mixed thoroughly. The mixture was
Mean plant cover width was measured before irrigation left to stand for 3 min and 3 mL of 2% sodium carbonate was
application for every Kcp treatment. The P values were added. After 120 min incubation at ambient temperature with
shown in Fig. 5. shaking, the resulting absorbance was measured at 760 nm.
Harvests from the two centre rows in each plot were done by Measurements were carried out in triplicate, the calibration
hand. Marketable immature fruits were counted and weighted curve was performed with gallic acid, and the results were
in each harvest. Fruit diameters and lengths were measured. expressed as g of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per mg of
sample (g GAE mg-1 sample) (Sengul et al. 2011).
Also, the mineral content, total phenolics and antioxidant
The antioxidant activity in the ethanol extracts of squash
activities of squash fruits were analysed for yield quality.
was determined according to the -carotene bleaching method
described by Kaur and Kapoor (2002) with some modifications.
Analyses Briefly, 4 mL of -carotene solution (0.1 mg in 1 mL
chloroform), 40 mg of linoleic acid and 400 mg of Tween 40
was transferred to a round-bottom flask. The mixture was then
For mineral analysis, squash fruit samples were washed with evaporated at 50C by means of a rotary evaporator to remove
distilled water, then dried in an oven for 48 h at 68C and the chloroform. Then, 100 mL of oxygenated distilled water
powdered. Major minerals (Na, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and trace was added slowly to the residue and vigorously agitated to give
minerals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B) were found after wet digestion a stable emulsion. Then, 800 L of the extracts was added to 3
using a HNO3-H2O2 acid mixture (2:3 v/v) with three different mL aliquots of -carotene/linoleic acid emulsion. As soon as
steps (first step: 145C, 75% radio-frequency (RF), 5 min; the emulsion was added to each tube, the zero time absorbance

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Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities 2525

was measured at 470 nm using a spectrophotometer. The L, Miller R H, Keeney D R, eds., Methods of Soil Analysis:
mixtures were then incubated at 50C for 100 min, and the Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Part II. 2nd ed.
measurements were carried out at 10 min intervals for a total of ASA- SSSA. Agronomy No: 9 Madison, WI. pp. 595-622.
100 min. Water was used instead of plant extract as a control. Chun S S, Vattem D A, Lin Y T, Shetty K. 2005. Phenolic
A blank, devoid of -carotene, was prepared for background antioxidants from clonal oregano (Origanum vulgare) with
subtraction. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was used antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori. Process
as a standard. All samples were assayed in triplicate. The Biochemistry, 40, 809-816.
degradation rate (DR) was calculated according to first order El-Dewiny C Y. 2011. Water and fertilizer use efficiency
kinetics, using eq. 3 (Sengul et al. 2011): by squash grown under stress on sandy soil treated
ln(a/b)1/t=DRsample or DRstandard (3) with acrylamide hydrogels. Journal of Applied Science
Where, a is the initial absorbance (470 nm) at time 0, b is Research, 7, 1828-1833.
the absorbance (470 nm) at 100 min and t is time. El-Gindy A G M, El-Banna E S, El-Adl M A, Metwally M F.
Antioxidant activity (AA) was expressed as percentage 2009. Effect of fertilization and irrigation water levels on
inhibition relative to the control, using eq. 4 (Sengul et al. summer squash yield under drip irrigation. Misr Journal
2011): of Agricultural Engineering, 26, 94-106.
AA=(DRcontrol-DRsample or standard/DRcontrol)100 (4) Ertek A, ensoy S, Kkyumuk C, Gedik . 2004. Irrigation
Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was calculated frequency and amount affect yield components of
by dividing the economic yield (kg ha-1) by the amount of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Agricultural Water
seasonal irrigation water (mm) (Howell 2001). However, Management, 67, 63-76.
total marketable yield was used instead of economic yield in Ertek A. 2011. Importance of pan evaporation for irrigation
our study. scheduling and proper use of crop-pan coefficient (Kcp),
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate crop coefficient (Kc) and pan coefficient (Kp). African
the effects of different irrigation water treatments on IWUE, Journal Agricultural Research, 6, 6706-6718.
fruit yield, yield components and fruit quality. Duncans Evans R, Cassel D K, Sneed R E. 1996. Soil, Water, and
multiple range test was used to compare and rank the treatment Crop Characteristics Important to Irrigation Scheduling.
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Gulcin I, Oktay M, Kufrevioglu I, Aslan A. 2002.
Acknowledgements Determination of antioxidant activity of lichen Cetraria
We thank to Associate Prof. Memnune Sengul in Department islandica (L.) Ach. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 79,
of Food Engineering in Ataturk University, Turkey, for 325-329.
phenolic and antioxidant analysis and to Research Assistant Howell T A. 2001. Enhancing water use efficiency in irrigated
Adem Gunes in Department of Soil in Ataturk University for agriculture. Agronomy Journal, 93, 281-289.
mineral substance analysis. James O, Emmanuel U C. 2011. Comparative studies on the
protein and mineral composition of some selected Nigerian
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