An experiment was carried out at EPAMIG Centro Oeste, Prudente de Morais, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, from August 25 to December 2, 2008, to evaluate the effects of N rates on production and quality of hybrid squash cv. Tetsukabuto (Takaima F1). The treatments were five N rates (0, 37.5, 75, 150, 300 kg ha-1), as urea, split in four applications (30% at planting date, 20% at 20 days, 30% at 40 days and 20% at 60 days after emergence) in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The N rates significantly affected the characteristics evaluated. The number of fruits increased from 2,498, reaching the fruit maximum number (6,794 ha-1) when applying 219 kg ha-1 N. The fruit yield was also influenced by N rates, the maximum yield (11.55 t ha-1) being achieved when 300 kg ha-1 of N were applied. The diameter and thickness of fruit pulp increased from 14.97 and 2.33 cm to achieve maximum points of 17.74 and 2.80 cm with N doses of 171 and 128 kg ha-1, respectively. The soluble solids content in the fruit pulp increased with increasing N doses and the content of 8ºBrix was observed with the application of 300 kg ha-1 N. Fruit yield was also influenced by N rates being estimated 11.55 kg ha-1 as maximum yield with the application of 300 kg ha-1 N. The estimated dose of N on the maximum economic efficiency was obtained with the application of 262 kg ha-1, considering the prices of R$ 2.41 kg-1 of N and R$ 560.00 t-1 of hybrid squash fruits.
Tetsukabuto (Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata); nitrogen fertilization; plant nutrition
