Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIV, Issue 2
Written by Gergana MLADENOVA, Boriana PLASHKOVA, Vera PETROVA, Milena YORDANOVA, Tsvetelina NIKOLOVA
The field experiments were conducted in 2024. The soil type is classified as alluvial-meadow with a light mechanical composition. The crop grown was Cucurbita pepo var. giromontia (zucchini). Four variants of compost treatment were developed, with a tested compost application rate of 5 t/da. The treatments included: Variant 1 (control) - untreated soil; Variant 2-20% of the optimal compost rate; Variant 3-50% of the optimal rate; and Variant 4-100% of the optimal rate. The compost used in the experiment was prepared from urban waste provided by the 'Capital Waste Treatment Enterprise.' Compost analysis revealed a nitrogen (N) concentration of 16.2 mg/kg, phosphorus (P) at 2.183 g/kg, and potassium (K) at 7.52 g/kg. Measurements included climate data, biometric parameters, and yield. The results showed that the highest compost application rate (Variant 4) had a depressive effect on plant development, suggesting that excessive compost may hinder growth. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different compost treatments on the yield and quality of zucchini.
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