Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)

This research was conducted to study the effect of adding humic and fulvic acids to the irrigation water on soil properties and germination percentage of two cucurbit plants: zucchini and cucumber. The study was conducted in an open field in Sokhna District in the governorate of Zarqa (Jordan). The...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: A. O. Khashroum, Y. Kh. Fawadleh, H. J. Hamad , Sh. A. Saewan, I. Almashagbeh , M. O. Alalawneh S. M. Daradkeh and Abeer Saqr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Technoscience Publications 2024-03-01
Series:Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://neptjournal.com/upload-images/(50)D-1544.pdf
_version_ 1797264912148332544
author A. O. Khashroum, Y. Kh. Fawadleh, H. J. Hamad , Sh. A. Saewan, I. Almashagbeh , M. O. Alalawneh S. M. Daradkeh and Abeer Saqr
author_facet A. O. Khashroum, Y. Kh. Fawadleh, H. J. Hamad , Sh. A. Saewan, I. Almashagbeh , M. O. Alalawneh S. M. Daradkeh and Abeer Saqr
author_sort A. O. Khashroum, Y. Kh. Fawadleh, H. J. Hamad , Sh. A. Saewan, I. Almashagbeh , M. O. Alalawneh S. M. Daradkeh and Abeer Saqr
collection DOAJ
description This research was conducted to study the effect of adding humic and fulvic acids to the irrigation water on soil properties and germination percentage of two cucurbit plants: zucchini and cucumber. The study was conducted in an open field in Sokhna District in the governorate of Zarqa (Jordan). The field soil was transported to calcareous sandy soil. In the beginning, the weeds and stones were removed, and the land was smoothed and plowed. Effort was made to control weeds and insects at all stages of plant growth. Then, an irrigation network was installed. The fulvic acid-humic acid (FA-HA) biostimulant mixture was incorporated with the irrigation water, and irrigation was practiced three days per week for four weeks. During this period, every irrigation round lasted for two to three hours. A mixture of humic acid (8.0%) and fulvic acid (8.0%) was added to the irrigation water. Three treatments were considered, corresponding to three acid mixture concentrations: 0.50 mL.L-1, 1.00 mL.L-1, and 1.50 mL.L-1. The acid mixtures were added continuously at all stages of plant growth until plant maturity and harvest. Four replicates of the experiment were made. The plant growth variables of interest were germination percentage, number of leaves, date of fruition, size of fruit, and overall mass of fruits. Meanwhile, the soil parameters of interest were soil pH and soil salinity (electric conductivity (EC)) before and after adding the FA-HA mixture. The study found that the 0.5 mL.L-1 acid mixture treatment led to the early growth of the zucchini plant seeds and that fruition took place 12 days after planting. In addition, the results showed an increase in plant germination under the 0.5 mL.L-1 acid mixture treatment in light of the increase in the number of male and female plant flowers, with fruiting taking place on time. In conclusion, the relationship between zucchini growth and yield with FA-HA mixture concentration is non-linear. It is also concluded that the optimum acid mixture concentration and application rate are crop-specific. Hence, for each crop, the most appropriate acid mixture concentration should be determined first before the broad-scale application of amendments to the soil to ensure the contribution of this environmentally friendly practice to sustainable agriculture.
first_indexed 2024-04-25T00:36:26Z
format Article
id doaj.art-543471221532403db0fd1f0841077016
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0972-6268
2395-3454
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-25T00:36:26Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher Technoscience Publications
record_format Article
series Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
spelling doaj.art-543471221532403db0fd1f08410770162024-03-12T16:37:29ZengTechnoscience PublicationsNature Environment and Pollution Technology0972-62682395-34542024-03-0123153754410.46488/NEPT.2024.v23i01.050Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)A. O. Khashroum, Y. Kh. Fawadleh, H. J. Hamad , Sh. A. Saewan, I. Almashagbeh , M. O. Alalawneh S. M. Daradkeh and Abeer SaqrThis research was conducted to study the effect of adding humic and fulvic acids to the irrigation water on soil properties and germination percentage of two cucurbit plants: zucchini and cucumber. The study was conducted in an open field in Sokhna District in the governorate of Zarqa (Jordan). The field soil was transported to calcareous sandy soil. In the beginning, the weeds and stones were removed, and the land was smoothed and plowed. Effort was made to control weeds and insects at all stages of plant growth. Then, an irrigation network was installed. The fulvic acid-humic acid (FA-HA) biostimulant mixture was incorporated with the irrigation water, and irrigation was practiced three days per week for four weeks. During this period, every irrigation round lasted for two to three hours. A mixture of humic acid (8.0%) and fulvic acid (8.0%) was added to the irrigation water. Three treatments were considered, corresponding to three acid mixture concentrations: 0.50 mL.L-1, 1.00 mL.L-1, and 1.50 mL.L-1. The acid mixtures were added continuously at all stages of plant growth until plant maturity and harvest. Four replicates of the experiment were made. The plant growth variables of interest were germination percentage, number of leaves, date of fruition, size of fruit, and overall mass of fruits. Meanwhile, the soil parameters of interest were soil pH and soil salinity (electric conductivity (EC)) before and after adding the FA-HA mixture. The study found that the 0.5 mL.L-1 acid mixture treatment led to the early growth of the zucchini plant seeds and that fruition took place 12 days after planting. In addition, the results showed an increase in plant germination under the 0.5 mL.L-1 acid mixture treatment in light of the increase in the number of male and female plant flowers, with fruiting taking place on time. In conclusion, the relationship between zucchini growth and yield with FA-HA mixture concentration is non-linear. It is also concluded that the optimum acid mixture concentration and application rate are crop-specific. Hence, for each crop, the most appropriate acid mixture concentration should be determined first before the broad-scale application of amendments to the soil to ensure the contribution of this environmentally friendly practice to sustainable agriculture.https://neptjournal.com/upload-images/(50)D-1544.pdfhumic acid, fulvic acids,soil properties, germination, cucurbit plants
spellingShingle A. O. Khashroum, Y. Kh. Fawadleh, H. J. Hamad , Sh. A. Saewan, I. Almashagbeh , M. O. Alalawneh S. M. Daradkeh and Abeer Saqr
Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)
Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
humic acid, fulvic acids,soil properties, germination, cucurbit plants
title Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)
title_full Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)
title_fullStr Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)
title_short Effects of Addition of Humic and Fulvic Acids on Soil Properties and Germination Percentage of Cucurbit Plants (Zucchini and Cucumber)
title_sort effects of addition of humic and fulvic acids on soil properties and germination percentage of cucurbit plants zucchini and cucumber
topic humic acid, fulvic acids,soil properties, germination, cucurbit plants
url https://neptjournal.com/upload-images/(50)D-1544.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT aokhashroumykhfawadlehhjhamadshasaewanialmashagbehmoalalawnehsmdaradkehandabeersaqr effectsofadditionofhumicandfulvicacidsonsoilpropertiesandgerminationpercentageofcucurbitplantszucchiniandcucumber