Plastic mulch and drip irrigation effects on Kabocha squash yield and soluble solids content

Kabocha squash, Cucurbita maxima, is an important cash crop for farmers in western Colorado. Combinations of different colored plastic mulches with drip irrigation were compared with non-mulched drip and furrow irrigated kabocha squash for yield. soluble solids concentration on the Brix scale, and water use. An average of 457 mm of water was applied through drip, which was one-fourth the amount applied by furrow irrigation. Drip irrigation in combination with plastic mulch and a transplant method of planting resulted in a greater total yield of squash. Two years average yield was 30.2 ton/ha compared to 12.6 ton/ha for furrow-irrigated squash without mulch. Direct seeded squash without mulch in drip system performed poorly (8.7 ton/ha) compared to transplanting (27.3 ton/ha). After grading the fruits, average marketable yield was 22.1 ton/ha for transplanted squash grown with drip irrigation and mulch cover. Furrow irrigated squash with no mulch differed in yield due to the planting method. Transplanted squash averaged 10.2 ton/ha and direct seeded squash averaged 6.5 ton/ha of marketable squash. Average soluble solids content (measured on the Brix scale) ranged from 11 similar to 16 and were consistently higher for drip-irrigated squash compared with furrow irrigated squash. Kabocha yield and soluble solids content were improved under a combination of drip and mulch treatment. Colors of mulch had no effect on soluble solids content or yield.