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International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research Vol.3 (10), pp. 382-387, October 2015 Available online at http://www.journalissues.org/IJAPR/ http://dx.doi.org/10.15739/IJAPR.064 Copyright © 2015 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article ISSN 2350-1561

Original Research Article

Effects of methanol foliar spray and bio-fertilizers application on yield of cucumbers

Received 13 August, 2015 Revised 19 September, 2015 Accepted 24 September, 2015 Published 14 October, 2015

Fariborz Moemenpour This experiment was carried out in greenhouse condition to evaluate the and effect of foliar spray of methanol and combined bio-fertilizers (Azoto- barvar1 and phosphate- barvar2) on greenhouse cucumbers fruit yield Ezzat Karami* (Negin and Nagin) in two planting periods of spring and autumn as a split- split plots in randomized complete block design with three replications. The Department of Agronomy and bio-fertilizers were used as inoculation and injection (top - Plant Breeding, College of dressing). Methanol foliar application at four levels (0, 5, 15 and 25%) and Natural started in the 8-6 leaf growth stage and was repeated three times during 15 Resources, Sanandaj Branch, days once. Fruit harvest was performed at average size in all treatments. A Islamic Azad University, product of each treatment measured separately and at the end of the Sanandaj, . planting season, the sum of all impressions for each plot was applied as a

final yield of the plot. Analysis of variance and means comparison were *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] performed by SAS9.2 software. The analysis of variance in both planting Tel.:+989183798761 periods (spring and autumn cultivation) showed that the Negin and Nagin are not statistically different. Also, the effect of combined bio- fertilizers (Azoto-barvar1 and phosphate- barvar2) on cucumber fruit yield was not significant in both planting periods. But, in both planting periods (spring and autumn cultivation) the effect of methanol foliar spray was significant at p>1% probability and by increasing the percentage of methanol from 5% to 25% cucumber fruit yield increased with the bullish

trend and significantly. The highest yield of cucumber fruit was obtained

from 25% methanol foliar spray. The treatment of 5% methanol foliar spray increased cucumber fruit yield compared with the control significantly, too. The interaction effect of bio-fertilizer and methanol foliar spray was significant (at the level of 1%) in autumn planting that indicated the different reaction of C factors various levels within B factor levels.

Key word: Methanol, bio-fertilizer, cucumber, split-split plot.

INTRODUCTION

Cucumber is important agricultural in the world and diet of humans (Bidarigh, 2003). Iran, with a cultivated area is used daily in different ways. This crop contains of about 74703 hectares of green cucumbers in open space, significant amounts of A and C, caffeic acid, silica, with an average of 22.9 mtons per hectare and 2500 potassium, , magnesium and the amino acid hectares under cultivation in condition with tryptophan (Trong-phu, 1996). Although the cucumber productivity of 150 mt ha-1 have a special place among fruit has 96 to 97 % of water but due to the abundance of producers of this product in worldwide (Binam, 2009). Due vitamins and minerals is very important in today's modern to diversity of climate in Iran cucumber can be grown very diet (Metawalaie, 2004) and plays an important role in the well especially with good management practices and plant

Int. J. Agric. Pol. Res. 383

nutrition plays an important role in this regard under greenhouse condition. (Kholdebarin and Islamzade, 2005). One of the ways to achieve high performance per unit of area is increasing dry matter, through the assimilation of CO2 during MATRIAL AND METHODS: photosynthesis (Nonmura and Benson, 1992). Methanol is one of the substances that increased CO2 fixation in C3 Experiments site plants, can compensate part of the carbon lost by photosynthesis (Nonmura and Benson, 1992; Fall and The experiments were conducted in two consecutive Benson, 1996; Galbally and Kristine, 2002). Methanol can planting seasons during 2012- 2013 years, in one of the prevent the production of ethylene in plants and could greenhouse of agricultural graduates greenhouses delay leaf senescence. Cellular pectin demethylation is the compound that located in 4 km from the Sanandaj city - most important source of methanol production in plants. Babariz village, Kurdistan Province, Iran( The North One of the main pillars of sustainable agriculture is using Latitude: 47° 3' 36" ; The East Longitude: 035° 21' 0" and bio - fertilizers with goal to substantially reduce the use of 1518 meters high from sea level) With the specifications a chemical inputs (Sharma, 2002) and increase sustainability. continuous greenhouse, a side and roof twist roll valve Bio-fertilizers are soil organisms or as metabolic products system, heater heating system, drip irrigation with a height of these organisms that is used in order to provide plant of 3.7 m and earthy seed bed. nutrients to an agronomic ecosystem (Saleh-Rastin, 2001). Studies conducted on medicinal plants in natural and Treatments agronomic ecosystems indicate that the use of bio- fertilizers(biofertilizers) provide the necessary conditions Two varieties of F1 cucumber (Negin and Nagin) as the for high yield with good quality (Ali and Al-Juthery, 2015 ; main plot (A), two levels (with and without ) of integrated Akbari-Nia, 2003; Sharifi-Ashor-Abadi et al., 2002). All bio-fertilizers (phosphate-barvar2 bacteria p5 (Pantoea types of cucumber have seven pairs of chromosomes and agglomerans strain+ bacteria p13 (Pseudomonas putida their germplasm for traits such as earliness, yield, fruit strain)) + Azoto-barvar1"Azotobacter ") as a sub plot (B) number and weight, fruit quality and the number of days to and four levels of methanol ( Purity of 99.8 percent (G.R / harvest are different (Wien, 1997). In the modified P.A) was from Chemistry Pars Company foliar spray cucumbers and a special planting in the greenhouse, including: control(distilled water +glycine), 5%methanol, cucumber plants produce female flowers and these 15% methanol and 25% (50, 150 and 250 ml of methanol cultivars are named flower female. These cultivars have and 2 g of glycine per liter of solution, respectively) as sub- high efficiency compared to the monoecius varieties (that sub - plot (C) in a split- split plots experiment in the male and female flowers place on one plant) (Khaghani, randomized complete block design with three replications. 2009). Methanol as a carbon source can be very useful in increasing the synthesis in the greenhouses as well as the Farm operations foliar spray with this substance is leads to less use of fungicides to control windburn and rust (Heins, 1980); The land preparation before planting was done by tiller. Zbiec et al. (2003) reported that methanol foliar spray Animal manure needed for each of the repetitions is evenly increased the concentration of carbon in the plant and added to the soil. Before planting the soil greenhouse there by increases plant growth. Concentration of 20% to disinfected by Metam- Sodium to be controlled all the 30% methanol lead to a significant increase in grain yield pathogenic microorganisms in soil. After aerating and and reduces crop water requirement, too. When plants plowing the soil, were prepared in the 3 repetitions with 50 exposed to drought stress, foliar spray of methanol can cm width, 54 meters in length and 1 meter distance among prevent the reduction in biomass (Rajala et al., 1998; Rowe repetitions. Bio-fertilizer treatments were used to both et al., 1994), and increase content of peanuts seed inoculation and top dress ways. Before planting the (Wishgahi et al. 2007). Moshabaki-Isfahani (2011) reported required were inoculated with Azoto-barvar1 and that the use of bio-fertilizers with chemical fertilizers can Phosphate-barvar2 and cultivation was performed after enhance the fresh and dry weight, plant height, leaf drying the seeds in the shade. Along with the cultivation of chlorophyll content and the amount of macro and micro seeds on the ground, using bio-fertilizer sprinkler seminal nutrients absorbed by plant roots. Bashan et al. (2000) fluid was poured. At the same time planting, bio-fertilizers proved that seedlings inoculated with phosphate inoculation liquid was poured on the seed bed by solubilizing microorganisms compared to non-inoculated sprinklers. seedlings have greater growth. The study of factors that can The seeds were planted at a depth of 2 cm. Also, every 15 increase yield with good quality safe environment is the days once bio-fertilizers treatment was applied as top dress main goals for recent researchers. Therefore, the purpose by injecting the plant. Irrigation started immediately after of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of methanol the seeds planting and in each irrigation frequency that was and bio-fertilizers as foliar spray on cucumber fruit yield performed 2 days once, the amount of 2500 liters of water

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Table 1. Analysis of variance split-split plots experiment as a randomized complete block design at autumn and spring cultivations for cucumber fruit yield per plot.

S.O.V df Autumn cultivation Spring cultivation Block 2 41.23ns 164.74ns Factor A 1 90.08ns 9.87ns Ea 2 7.85 562.78 Factor B 1 104.4ns 35.2ns A × B Interaction 1 11.32ns 304.22ns Eb 4 20.77 46.91 Factor C 3 236.46** 355.58** A × C Interaction 3 0.83ns 14.87ns B × C Interaction 3 41.46** 16.82ns A × B × C Interaction 3 4.08ns 18.15ns Error 24 5.73 30.186 CV% - 7.21 6.4

**, * and ns indicated significant deference at the level of 1%, 5% and not significant deference, respectively. Factor A: (Negin and Nagin). Factor B: integrating bio-fertilizers application and lack application (Azoto-barvar1 + Phosphate-barvar2). Factor C: Methanol foliar spray (Control, 5% methanol, 15% methanol and 25% methanol).

to drip irrigation was given to plants (In total). The foliar cultivar on fruit yield was not significant. Therefore, it spray of methanol in the four volume levels: 0, 5, 15 and seems that the cultivars studied in this study (Negin and 25% began at the 6 to 8 leaf growth stage. To increase the Nagin) are similar in many of the characteristics in terms of absorption level of methanol was added to the solution 2 g genetic pedigrees and have been modified and derived from of glycine amino-acids per liter. To eliminate the effect of a formally (Table 1). The mean comparison of cultivars fruit glycine, the control treatments were sprayed with distilled yield in both the experiments (autumn and spring sowing) water and glycine. Methanol foliar spray performed every showed that Negin and Nagin cultivars gave the equal fruit 15 days once and repeated three times during the growing yield and without significant difference (Figure 1). It is season. worth noting, fruit yield in spring was nearly three times of The fruit performance of plots was measured at every autumn planting that indicated the difference of winter and harvest and recorded separately. At the end of the growing spring weather conditions, especially during the day and season were collected the all of harvest times number for the number of sunny days. each plot and reported as a performance of the plot. Plant density was similar for all experimental units. So that, in all The impact of biological fertilizer on fruit yield in plots the plots there were 12 fertile plants evenly and reported performance for each treatment is according of Kg per 12 plants. Also, fruit harvest in all plots was done at the same Analysis of variance in autumn and spring sowing showed time and average size. Seeding date and ending date of the that biological fertilizer (The integration of phosphate- autumn and spring growth seasons were “1 Sep and 21 Jan” barvar2 + Azoto-barvar1) was not significant on the and “20 Feb and 11 Jul” respectively. performance of cucumber fruit (Figure 2). Despite the lack of significant differences, biological fertilizer application in Statistical Analysis autumn planting compared to the non-application of biological fertilizer increase cucumber fruit yield by as After collecting the data, the normality of data were much as 9%. The interaction between bio-fertilizer and variety had no significant effect in both autumn and spring analyzed using the SAS9.2 software. After ensuring from the being honest analysis of variance assumptions were experiments that indicated the same reaction of cultivars performed analysis of variance and means comparison by under different fertilizer systems. Results of this study do not correspond with other researchers results. Ahmadi et Duncan's multiple range test at the level of %5 using SAS9.2 software. Figures were drawn using EXCELL software. al. (2014) reported that biological fertilizer application increased potato tuber yield compared to control significantly. Farah-Vash et al. (2011) reported that the effects of biological fertilizers on hybrid corn yield were RESULTS AND DISCUSSION significant at the level of 1%. Moshabaki-Isfahani and Besharati (2012) stated use of biological fertilizers The analysis of variance results showed that the effect of increased fruit yield and yield components of cucumber.

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Figure 1: The mean comparison of two cucumber varieties at two separately experiments (autumn and spring cultivations) by Duncan’s multiple test at the level of 5%.

Figure 2: The mean comparison of application and lack application of bio-fertilizers at the two experiments separately (autumn and spring cultivation) by Duncan’s multiple tests at the level of 5%.

Methanol effects on fruit yield the yield of crops (Romberg et al., 2002). Methanol caused the increase of treated plants performance with this Methanol caused a significant effect on cucumber fruit yield substance by causing disruption of photorespiration in both of spring and autumn experiments at the level of pathway (Murali et al., 1994). According to the done 1% (Table 1). Methanol foliar spray treatments of 5, 15 and studies, production of high dry matter per unit area is the 25% caused an increasing percentage of 13.2, 22 and 38% first condition for access to high-performance and about in cucumber fruit yield compared to control, respectively 90% of the dry weight of plants will be due to carbon (Figure 3). This results were corresponded with the other dioxide assimilation by photosynthesis. Methanol foliar researcher’s results about the impact of methanol foliar spray increased carbon dioxide and thereby causes an spray in increasing crops performance (Murali et al., 1994; increase in photosynthesis (Pilawari-Khomami et al., 2008). Romberg et al., 2002; Pilawari-Khomami et al., 2008). The interaction of methanol and bio-fertilizer foliar spray Methanol by delaying leaf senescence caused greater had a significant effect at 1% (Table 1). The interaction photosynthetic activity in leaves thereby; lead to increase between cultivars and methanol foliar spray was not

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Figure 3: The mean comparison of methanol foliar spray levels at the two experiments separately (autumn and spring cultivation) by Duncan’s multiple tests at the level of 5%.

significant. In general, the results of this study revealed that effect of biological fertilizers and methanol foliar spray was cucumber cultivars (Negin and Nagin) had no difference in significant. terms of performance. Also using a combination of bio- Therefore the highest fruit performance was obtained at fertilizers phosphate-barvar2 and Azoto-barvar1 had no the treated plants with both bio- fertilizers and methanol significant effect on cucumber fruit yield. Methanol foliar foliar spray. According to recent study results that spray at the level of 5%, 15% and 25% had the significant performed in two consecutive growing seasons (autumn economic impact on the performance of cucumber fruit and and spring) with the high precision in the greenhouse the highest rates were observed in 25% level. conditions, the use of methanol foliar spray in cucumber Among all interaction effects, only the interaction greenhouse cultivation is recommended as an economic

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