Mulching impact on the quality of oil pumpkin’s (Cucurbita pepo L.) fruit

Abstract

Nutritious value of great (Cucurbita maxima) and musky (Cucurbita moschata) pumpkin pulp has been widely investigated, but chemical and qualitative analysis of pulp of oil pumpkin fruits has been superficial so far. The aim of two years research – to investigate the influence of compost/organic mulch to the quality of organically grown oil seed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) fruit quality. In 2013–2014, in Kaunas district farm, oil seed pumpkins cultivars 'Heracles', 'Hamlet', 'Danaja' were grown for research. The aim of two years research – to investigate the influence of compost/organic mulch to the quality of organically grown oil seed pumpkin fruit. Pumpkin seedlings were mulched with 5 and 10 cm thick layer of compost mulch. Standard methods were applied to identify the following: dry matter, soluble dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre and amounts of MADF, NDF, ADF fibre and crude in the pumpkin flesh. The results have determined that 5 and 10 cm compost mulch layer had a significant effect on the amount of dry matter in the pumpkin flesh. Basically, mulching has increased the amount of soluble dry matter in the pumpkin flesh. Crude protein accumulation in the fruit flesh was essentially affected by 5 cm thick layer of compost. Mulching with 5 and 10 cm compost layer has significantly increased the amount of crude fibre in 'Hamlet' and 'Heracles' cultivars. 5 and 10 cm compost mulch had a significant effect on the amount of crude ash. According to the researched indicators set parameters in ecologic system of the researched oil-seed pumpkins, the best cultivator to be grown with organic mulching is 'Hamlet'.