Optimal spacing in pumpkin production

There are few studies carried out in Brazil, where spacings that vary depending on the species, cultivar and production system adopted are used. Pumpkins that have very vigorous plants with long stems are planted in a spacing of 5m x 4m or 4m x 4m, with two plants per hole. Those of medium size and the jerimuns caboclos are cultivated in a spacing of 4m x 3m, with two plants per hole. Practical observations indicate excellent productions when only one plant per hole is grown, with an increase in the number of holes per planting line. Thus, spacings such as 4m x 1m or 3m x 1m, with one plant per hole, have provided an increase in the number of fruits without compromising the fruit's fresh mass (weight).

The evaluation of different pumpkin genotypes is an important tool for recommending the planting of the crop, since different materials can respond differently, achieving better productivity rates in a comparative trial. The objective of the study was to evaluate Maranhão pumpkin accessions selected for higher carotenoid content and the Jacarezinho cultivar, in different spacing between plants, for greater productivity, production sustainability and competitiveness of the crop, in irrigated areas, in the semiarid conditions of Vale do San Francisco.

Study methodology

The study was carried out from May to September 2010, at the Bebedouro Experimental Field, at Embrapa Semiárido, in Petrolina, Pernambuco.

Four Maranhão pumpkin accessions selected from the Embrapa Semiarid Pumpkin Active Bank (A422, A612, A620 and A627) and the Jacarezinho cultivar as control and three plant spacings (1m, 2m and 3m) were evaluated. The experimental plots will consist of two 8m lines, spaced 4m apart.

Soil preparation consisted of plowing and harrowing. Fertilization was carried out with the application of the formula 6-24-12 at a dose of 200kg/ha, incorporated into the planting furrow, with two coverings being carried out at 20 and 45 days after transplanting, with 50kg/ha of N and 60kg/ha from k₂Using urea and potassium chloride as sources.

The seedlings were produced in multicellular trays of 128 cells each, filled with commercial substrate (Plantmax), and the transplant was carried out 20 days after sowing on May 26, 2010, when the plants presented two pairs of definitive leaves.

The crop was kept clean through manual weeding and sprinkler irrigation carried out three times a week, with blades around 10mm and the phytosanitary treatments common to the crop.

The harvest was carried out on September 16, 2010, and productivity (t/ha), fresh fruit mass (kg/fruit) and number of fruits per plant were evaluated.

Results and recommendations

The highest productivity was obtained by accession A612 (17,3t/ha), followed by accession A422 (15,2t/ha), with the worst performance being presented by the cultivar Jacarezinho, which reached 12,2t/ha (Table 1). The results obtained in the present study, in general, are surprising in terms of productivity, especially taking into account that the national average productivity of pumpkin is 4,4t/ha and the world average is 13,4t/ha. The most productive accessions achieved increases in productivity, varying between 293,2% and 245,4% higher than the national average.

For spacing between plants, it was observed that the highest productivity was found in the smallest spacing (4m x 1m) with 18,2t/ha, and with lower productivity in the spacing of 4m x 3m (11,9t/ha) (Table 1).

Accession A612 stood out with the highest fresh mass with 3,5kg/fruit, with the Jacarezinho cultivar and accession A620 having respective 1,9kg/fruit and 2kg/fruit the lowest values. The largest spacing of 4m x 3m stood out with 2,9kg/fruit, followed by the other spacings that reached 2,5kg/fruit (Table 1).

Table 1 - Yield, fresh mass and number of fruits per plant of different spacing and accessions and pumpkin cultivar. Embrapa Semiarid, Petrolina-PE, 2010

Accesses/cultivate	Productivity (t ha-1)	Fresh mass (g fruit -1)	Number of fruits (plant)
A612	17,3	3,5	3,6
A620	12,8	2,0	4,6
A422	15,2	3,2	3,5
A627	13,0	2,6	3,8
alligator	12,2	1,9	4,7
Spacing between plants (m)
4 x 1	18,2	2,5	3,1
4 x 2	12,2	2,5	4,1
4 x 3	11,9	2,9	5,0

Accesses/cultivate

Productivity

(t ha^-1)

Fresh mass

(g fruit ^-1)

Number of fruits

(plant)

A612

17,3

3,5

3,6

A620

12,8

2,0

4,6

A422

15,2

3,2

3,5

A627

13,0

2,6

3,8

alligator

12,2

1,9

4,7

Spacing between plants (m)

4 x 1

18,2

2,5

3,1

4 x 2

12,2

2,5

4,1

4 x 3

11,9

2,9

5,0

In relation to the number of fruits per plant, higher values ​​were observed for the cultivar Jacarezinho (4,7 fruits/plant) and accession A620 (4,6 fruits/plant), followed by the other accessions with slightly lower values, ranging between 3,5. 3,8 fruits/plant and XNUMX fruits/plant, which demonstrates high prolificacy for these two treatments, however, with much lower fresh fruit mass (fruit weight).

Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the best spacing for the crop is related to the demand of the consumer market, and can be managed with greater or lesser plant density. If the option is for fruits with a smaller fresh mass (smaller fruits), smaller spacings are suggested and vice versa. In general, it can be recommended to plant all accessions and cultivate Jacarezinho due to the productivity achieved, highlighting the accessions of Abóbora Maranhão A612 and A422. In terms of spacing between plants, the preference of the consumer market will define the most appropriate, if the option falls on fruits with a lower fresh mass (smaller size) spacings of 4m x 1m are suggested, if for larger fruits a spacing of 4m x 3m is the most recommended.

Importance of cucurbits

The Cucurbitaceae family is a plant group present in tropical regions of the world, with around 30 genera and 200 species in Brazil. Among the species of economic and food importance, pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch), strawberry (Cucurbita maxima Duch) and the mogango (Cucurbita pepo L.).

In addition to its economic and food value, the cultivation of cucurbits in Brazil, especially pumpkins, has great social importance in generating direct and indirect jobs, as it requires a large amount of labor, from cultivation to marketing. The Family Budget survey carried out in 2008 by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) concluded that per capita pumpkin consumption was stable at around 1,2kg in Brazil between 2002 and 2008.

Pumpkins are used in human food in the preparation of sweets in syrup or paste, savory dishes, stews, stews, among others, and can also be used in animal feed due to the high productivity of the plants and the durability of the fruits. The fruits of this species are known as pumpkin, Creole pumpkin, neck pumpkin, giant pumpkin, lizard pumpkin, cow pumpkin, girl pumpkin, strawberry pumpkin, pumpkin, milk pumpkin, maranhão pumpkin, common pumpkin, among others. In the Northeast region of Brazil, the cultivation of local varieties of pumpkin called Maranhão pumpkin is more widespread and the fruits have strong market acceptance, along with the Jacarezinho cultivar.

In recent years, the value of pumpkin has been increasing and important for the diversification of family farms and as a food that contributes to the nutrition and health of the population. Ooccupy a prominent position in terms of nutritional importance, not only due to their culinary versatility, but especially due to their richness in carotenoids, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber and vitamins B and C. They also contain bioflavonoids, stimulating hormone receptor blockers of cancer, and sterols that are converted in vitamin D in the body and stimulate cell differentiation. Because they have antioxidant properties, beta-carotene and lycopene are extremely important, especially beta-carotene, as it is a precursor of Vitamin A, being essential for the diet of populations that have a high rate of hypovitaminosis A, as occurs in some regions. Brazilians.

In the world, according to the FAO, the world production of pumpkins in 2010 was 23,1 million tons, cultivated in an area of ​​1,72 million hectares, providing an average productivity of 13,4t/ha. In Brazil, data regarding commercialization is scarce, with the last information available in 2006, with a harvested area of ​​86.735ha, 384.912t produced, which provided an average productivity of 4,4t/ha, with a production value of R$1,52 .127,7 million, cultivated in more than 52,3 thousand agricultural establishments according to IBGE data. The Northeastern states represented 24,1 of the cultivated area and XNUMX% of national production, with the largest producers being Bahia, Maranhão and Pernambuco.