EFFECTS OF MICROIRRIGATION OF CHOSEN CULTIVARS OF WINTER SQUASH (Cucurbita maxima Duch. F.) CULTIVATED ON THE VERY LIGHT SOIL

During the years 1998-2000 the field experiments on microirrigation of squash on the very light soil were carried out in Kruszyn Krajenski near Bydgoszcz. The objective of this study was to recognize the effects of microirrigation in cultivation of winter squash in a very light soil conditions. Both systems of irrigation used, significantly increased mean marketable yields of squash as compared to non-irrigated plots. They amounted 59.4 and 55.4 t.ha(-1) for drip and microsprinkler irrigation, respectively. Among three cultivars tested the highest yields were obtained for 'Melonowa Zolta', lower for 'Bambino' and the lowest for 'Ambar'. The calculated water use efficiency (WUE) index for both systems of irrigation was higher for drip irrigation.