Evaluating the Efficiency of Vermicompost and Fermented Farmyard Manure on the Growth and Productivity of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Prof. Dr. Rida DraieDepartment of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Vol 10 No 9 (2026): Volume 10, Issue 9, September 2026 | Pages: 117-129

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 26-09-2026

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2026.109013

Abstract

This study was carried out during the 2024–2025 growing season in the Hazano area of Idlib Governorate, northern Syria, to evaluate the relative efficiency of three organic growing media - vermicompost, fermented farmyard (poultry) manure, and a 1:1 mixture of the two — applied at four fertilization levels (0, 1, 2 and 3 kg/m²) on the growth and productivity of squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. Sirina F1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates, and six principal vegetative and yield traits were assessed. The results revealed clear differences in plant response among treatments, with the organic mixture outperforming the single media in most growth and yield indicators. The greatest plant height (74.77 cm) was recorded for the mixture at 3 kg/m², compared with 39.70 cm for the unfertilized control, and the mixture also achieved the highest mean leaf number (22.49 leaves per plant). For yield traits, fermented farmyard manure gave the highest mean fruit weight (111.24 g at 2 kg/m²), whereas the mixture produced the greatest number of fruits (48.27 fruits per plant at 3 kg/m²). Total productivity was markedly highest under the mixture, reaching 8006.47 kg/dunum at 3 kg/m² versus 3508.57 kg/dunum for the control. Increasing the fertilization level produced a steady improvement in most traits, and a significant interaction between medium type and fertilization level was detected for most characteristics. The combined application of the organic mixture at 3 kg/m² is therefore recommended for sustainable squash production under local conditions.

Keywords

Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), Vermicompost, Fermented Farmyard Manure, Vegetative Growth, Productivity, Organic Farming, Sustainable Agriculture


Citation of this Article

Prof. Dr. Rida Draie. (2026). Evaluating the Efficiency of Vermicompost and Fermented Farmyard Manure on the Growth and Productivity of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, 10(9), 117-129. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2026.109013

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