A field experiment was conducted at Bangalore during 2006-2008 to study the effect of fertigation on growth and yield of&nbsp;rabi-summer grown watermelon. Seven treatments comprising varying rates and sources of fertilizers were applied. Application of water soluble fertilizer @ 70:70:70kg N:P2O5:K2O per hectare through fertigation gave significantly higher vine length, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. In general, fertigation treatments recorded higher values for number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids than conventional soilapplication of fertilizers. All the fertigation treatments recorded higher average marketable watermelon yield over conventional soil-application of fertilizers amounting to 7.22 to 26.4% increase. Among fertigation treatments, though recommended dose of fertilizer applied as water soluble fertilizer resulted in highest marketable-fruit yield, highest net income (Rs. 229775) and B:C ratio (3.03) was obtained in treatment with 70% of recommended dose of NPK using conventional fertilizers supplied through fertigation

Hebbar, S S

Nair, A K

Prabhakar, M

English

A field experiment was conducted at Bangalore during 2006-2008 to study the effect of fertigation on growth and yield of rabi-summer grown watermelon. Seven treatments comprising varying rates and sources of fertilizers were applied. Application of water soluble fertilizer @ 70:70:70kg N:P2O5:K2O per hectare through fertigation gave significantly higher vine length, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. In general, fertigation treatments recorded higher values for number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids than conventional soilapplication of fertilizers. All the fertigation treatments recorded higher average marketable watermelon yield over conventional soil-application of fertilizers amounting to 7.22 to 26.4% increase. Among fertigation treatments, though recommended dose of fertilizer applied as water soluble fertilizer resulted in highest marketable-fruit yield, highest net income (Rs. 229775) and B:C ratio (3.03) was obtained in treatment with 70% of recommended dose of NPK using conventional fertilizers supplied through fertigation

M Prabhakar

S S Hebbar

A K Nair

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INTRODUCTIONWatermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum etNakai] is believed to have originated in Africa and spreadto other parts of world. Global area under watermeloncultivation is 37,52,568 ha with annual production of99,194,223mt (Vasanth Kumar et al, 2012). It is acommercially important crop in India and the most popularamong melons grown in summer. Watermelon comprises90% water, therefore, water supply to the crop is very criticalduring growth and development of the plant and fruit. Watershortage causes noticeable gaps in production, with reductionin leaf area and overall yield. Supply of water throughoutthe growth period is important, but absolutely critical duringflowering and fruit development. Drip fertigation is animportant irrigation-cum-nutrient application method in cropproduction, particularly, in arid and semi-arid regions wherethere is a high competition for available water resources.Drip irrigation under plastic mulch is an effective way ofsupplying water efficiently in watermelon cultivation. Thismay reduce total water requirement besides increasing wateruse efficiency (Srinivas et al, 1989; Anon., 2002). To reducecost of production and environmental pollution, judicious useJ. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 8(1):60-64, 2013Influence of various sources and levels of fertilizer applied through fertigationon hybrid watermelon grown in rabi-summerM. Prabhakar, S.S. Hebbar and A.K. NairDivision of Vegetable CropsIndian Institute of Horticultural ResearchHesaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore - 560 089, IndiaE-mail : mpkar@iihr.ernet.inABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted at Bangalore during 2006-2008 to study the effect of fertigation on growth andyield of rabi-summer grown watermelon. Seven treatments comprising varying rates and sources of fertilizers wereapplied. Application of water soluble fertilizer @ 70:70:70kg N:P2O5:K2O per hectare through fertigation gavesignificantly higher vine length, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. In general, fertigation treatmentsrecorded higher values for number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids than conventional soil-application of fertilizers. All the fertigation treatments recorded higher average marketable watermelon yield overconventional soil-application of fertilizers amounting to 7.22 to 26.4% increase. Among fertigation treatments,though recommended dose of fertilizer applied as water soluble fertilizer resulted in highest marketable-fruit yield,highest net income (Rs. 229775) and B:C ratio (3.03) was obtained in treatment with 70% of recommended dose ofNPK using conventional fertilizers supplied through fertigation.Key words: Watermelon, fertigation, rabi, summer, growth, yield, economicsof water and nutrients is very important. Micro-irrigationand fertigation are among the best option to help economizewater and fertilization use in vegetable cultivation (Clothieret al, 1985) and for lowering leaching losses (Ristimaki,1999). Scientific information on fertigation, especially inwatermelon, is very scanty. Hence, the present fieldexperiment was set up to determine influence of dripfertigation for supply of different fertilizer sources and levelson growth, fruit yield and quality in watermelon.MATERIAL AND METHODSThe experiment was conducted during rabi-summerseasons of 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 at Indian Institute ofHorticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore. Soil at theexperimental site was red sandy-loam, with organic carbon0.53%, electrical conductivity 0.24 dS/m, neutral pH (6.72),low available N (160kg/ha), low available P (9.3kg/ha) andmedium available K (138kg/ha). The soil had a capacity forholding 148mm available water in the top one meter of itsprofile. Seeds of watermelon hybrid NS-295 were sown inrows of 2m width, with 60cm plant-to-plant spacing, duringthe first week of November in both years. The experiment61Fertigation studies in hybrid watermelonwas laid out in Randomized Block Design, with seventreatments and three replications. Uniform basal dose offarm yard manure @ 25t/ha was applied before sowing.Treatment details with source and amount of variousfertilizers applied are given in Tables 1 and 2.  Reflectivemulch 30 micron thick and 1.2m wide was used.Conventional fertilizers used in the experiment were urea,single super phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate and muriateof potash; whereas, 19 each of N, P2O5, K2O, KNO3 andCa (NO3)2 formed the source of water soluble fertilizer.Recommended dose of fertilizer in the present studycomprised 100kg N, 100kg P2O5 and 100kg K2O perhectare. Fertilizer was applied at weekly intervals throughinline drippers in all the fertigation treatments.  Soil treatmentsreceived the entire P2O5 and K2O at sowing, and N in twosplits-one at sowing, and the other 28 days later. Irrigationwas based on evaporation replenishment (0.7 Epan) andimposed daily on all the treatments through inline drippers.Fertilizers were injected through non-electrical proportionalinjector at weekly intervals, starting with seven days aftergermination, and continued for upto 75 days after sowing atequal rates, as per treatments. Growth observations weretaken 60 days after sowing. Meteorological data during cropgrowth period for both years is given in Table 3. Allagronomic and plant protection measures were adopted asper recommended package of practices. The crop wasTable 2.  Source and quantity (kg/ha) of fertilizers applied under various treatmentsTreatment Basal dose Top dressing FertigationUrea SSP MOP Urea MOP Urea MOP KNO3Ca(NO3)219:19:19    DAPT1108.7 625 83.0 108.7 83.0 - - - - - -T2108.7 625 83.0 - - 108.7  83.0 - - - -T3- - - - - - - - - 526.0 -T4- 437.5 - - - 152.0  117.0 - - - -T5- 437.5 - - - - - 152.0 323 - -T6- - - - - 93.0  117.0 - - -    152.0T7- - - - - - - - - 368.0 -SSP - Single super phosphate;    MOP- Muriate of potash;   DAP - Diammonium phosphate;Table 1. Treatments imposed in the experiment                                                            Treatment Symbol Basal dose Top-dressing FertigationLevel of fertilizer(kg/ha) Fertilizer type Application dose and method (kg/ha) (kg/ha) (kg/ha)Recommended dose Conventional  100% NPK soil application      T1  50:100:50    50:0:50  0:0:0(100:100:100 N:P2O5:K2O)Conventional  50% NK fertigation      T2  50:100:50    0  50:0:50WSF  100% NPK fertigation      T3  0:0:0    0 100:100:10070% of recommended dose Conventional  NK fertigation      T4  0:70:0 70:0:70(70:70:70 N:P2O5:K2O)WSF  NK fertigation      T5  0:70:0    0 70:0:70Conventional  NPK fertigation      T6  0:0:0    0 70:70:70WSF  NPK fertigation      T7  0:0:0    0 70:70:70WSF: Water soluble fertilizerTable 3. Meteorological data during crop growth periodMonth            Temperature (oC)                               RH (%) Total Evaporation Wind       Max.                   Min.           Morning                  Evening rainfall(mm) (mm) speed(km/h)November 2006 27.2 18.1 84.5 72.8 112.7 2.7 4.9December 2006 26.6 14.7 80.0 72.6 - 3.7 5.6January 2007 28.4 11.8 78.8 43.2 - 4.5 5.3February 2007 29.9 12.9 58.6 29.6 - 5.6 5.5March 2007 33.2 16.7 53.3 26.2 - 7.1 5.3April 2007 33.8 19.7 68.9 36.8 53.4 5.5 6.7November 2007 26.7 13.1 68.2 59.7 2.8 4.2 3.3December 2007 27.5 11.4 74.2 65.1 - 5.2 3.8January 2008 28.5 11.9 73.1 53.1 - 3.6 3.9February 2008 29.7 15.7 60.6 37.0 7.4 4.7 4.5March 2008 30.1 16.6 55.0 36.8 105.7 6.2 5.0April 2008 31.8 18.5 62.6 38.8 11.1 4.1 4.9J. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 8(1):60-64, 201362harvested at 90 to 100 days after sowing, at fruit maturityas indicated by a dull sound of the fruit, or, when the fruittendril turned to straw colour, or when the fruit base turnedcreamy-yellow in colour. Observations on crop growth, yield,yield parameters and quality were recorded and statisticallyanalyzed as per Gomez and Gomez (1983).RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONGrowth parametersAll the treatments pertaining to fertigation(irrespective of source or dosage) resulted in better growthin terms of vine length, number of branches per plant andleaf area index compared to conventional soil-applicationduring both years (Table 4). Among fertigation treatments,application of 100 and 70% recommended dose of NPK, inthe form of water soluble fertilizer (T3 and T7), recordedsignificantly higher vine length than in N:K fertigation at70% recommended dose (T4 and T5) in 2006-07 and thanall the treatments in 2007-2008. Irrespective of dosage andcombination of fertilizers in fertigation, vine length andnumber of branches per plant was higher in water solublefertilizer treatment than with conventional fertilizers.Application at 100% recommended or 70% of recommendedrate through fertigation produced significantly higher numberof branches per plant compared to soil-applicationtreatments. Leaf area index was highest in T7 and lowest inT4 and T1 during 2006-07 and 2007-08, respectively.Improvement of crop growth and leaf area in watermelonhas been reported to be better with nutrients supplied throughfertigation rather than by soil application (Zhang, 2011).Yield and yield attributesThere were no significant differences amongtreatments for number of fruits per plant during 2006-07.But, in 2007-08, all water soluble fertilizer fertigationtreatments (T3, T5 and T7) recorded higher number of fruitsper plant than any other treatment (Table 5). Thesetreatments were also significantly superior to conventionalfertilizer treatment of soil-application of 100 or 50%recommended dose (T1 and T2), and remained at par with70% NPK application using conventional fertilizer.Significant differences for fruit weight due to differenttreatments were observed but, overall, higher fruit weightwas observed in treatments receiving water-solublefertilizers compared to treatments receiving conventionalfertilizers. Application of 50% N:K fertigation (T2) resultedin significantly higher fruit weight (4.89kg) which was atpar with T4 and T6, and all these treatments were superiorto soil-application treatments in 2006-07. During 2007-08,fruit weight was comparatively more in crops receivingwater-soluble fertilizers through fertigation compared to allthe treatments involving conventional fertilizers. Total solublesolids (oBrix), representing fruit quality, did not differsignificantly due to different fertigation treatments. However,T7 (which received 70% recommended dose of water-soluble fertilizers) recorded highest values for TSS in bothyears. Battilani and Solimando (2006) and Andrade Junioret al (2009) also reported no significant differences in fruitquality in watermelon with various levels of fertilizerssupplied through fertigation. All the fertigation treatmentsrecorded higher yield over conventional method of applyingcommercial fertilizer as soil-application (T1) for upto 7.23Table 4. Growth of watermelon as influenced by fertigationtreatmentsTreatment Vine No. of  branches Leaf arealength(cm) per plant  index06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08T1242.3 255.0 8.2 8.0 2.52 2.50T2281.1 273.0 9.3 8.3 2.54 2.52T3286.6 330.0 10.8 10.0 2.58 2.61T 4235.3 286.0 10.7 8.6 2.49 2.55T5246.8 300.0 10.7 10.8 2.60 2.63T6277.3 305.0 10.9 9.8 2.56 2.62T7303.2 346.0 11.4 11.0 2.63 2.66CD (P=0.05) 25.49 20.74 1.40 1.41 0.09 0.0872Table 5. Effect of fertigation level on yield, yield attributes and quality in watermelonTreatment No. of fruits per plant Fruit weight (kg) TSS (oBrix) Yield (t/ha)06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08T11.31 1.32 4.32 5.32 9.38 9.20 45.61 55.80T21.30 1.25 4.89 5.75 9.63 9.24 48.91 59.81T31.40 1.60 4.43 6.15 9.68 10.45 60.20 68.85T 41.33 1.43 4.68 5.95 9.75 9.56 53.49 63.34T51.37 1.62 4.37 6.06 9.76 10.48 56.66 66.50T61.42 1.51 4.69 5.77 9.83 10.46 56.70 65.50T71.42 1.68 4.45 6.01 9.90 10.56 59.87 68.31CD(P=0.05) NS 0.19 0.35 0.47 NS NS 7.72 3.46NS = Non-significantPrabhakar et alJ. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 8(1):60-64, 201363Table 6. Economics of watermelon crop in relation to fertigationtreatmentsTreatment* Average Gross Gross Net B:Cyield investment income  income ratio(t/ha) (Rs./ha) (Rs./ha) (Rs./ha)T150.70 77585 253500 175915 2.26T254.36 77585 271800 194215 2.50T364.52 104125 322600 218475 2.09T458.41 75317 292050 216738 2.87T561.58 98066 307900 209834 2.14T661.10 75725 305500 229775 3.03T764.09 93920 320450 226530 2.41Sale Price = Rs. 5.00/kg*For details on treatments, refer Table 1and 2to 32.00% increase in 2006-07 and 7.18 to 23.38% in 2007-08. Higher yield obtained with fertigation treatments maybe because of better growth, higher photosynthetic-surfacearea coupled with better yield attributes such as number offruits per plant and larger fruit size. Gonsalves et al (2011)reported leaf area index to have a positive effect on thenumber of fruits and on productivity in watermelon.Application of 100% NPK fertigation at recommended dosethrough water-soluble fertilizer (T3) recorded maximum andsignificantly higher yield (60.20 and 68.85 t/ha) than T1 andT2, but remained at par with treatments where only 70% ofthe recommended dose of NK or NPK was applied asfertigation (except in T4) in the second year. Among otherfertigation treatments, application of 70% NPKrecommended dose through water-soluble fertilizers (T7)recorded the second highest yield, followed by T6 in thefirst year, and T5 in the second year. Use of fertilizer at70% of recommended dose through fertigation clearlyresulted in higher yield than 50% N:K fertigation + 50%soil application or complete soil-application of  conventionalfertilizers at recommended dosage. This also indicated thatto realize yields equivalent to or higher than in soil applicationof the entire dose or by fertigating with half therecommended conventional fertilizer, it is possible to save30% of fertilizer using water-soluble or conventionalfertilizers, applied entirely through fertigation. Kadam et al(2009) also reported 20% saving in fertilizer using fertigationin watermelon.EconomicsDetails on economics and benefit:cost ratio inwatermelon hybrid NS 295 in relation to various fertigationtreatments tested are presented in Table 6. Highest grossincome (Rs. 3,22,600/ha) was obtained in the treatmentwhere the entire quantity of water-soluble fertilizers atrecommended dosage was given through fertigation (T3),followed by T7 which received 70% recommended dose ofwater-soluble fertilizers through fertigation. Lowest grossincome (Rs.2,53,500/ha) was obtained by applyingrecommended dose of conventional fertilizer to soil (T1).Though treatment T3 resulted in highest gross income, it failedto earn highest net income owing to higher cost of the water-soluble fertilizers. As for net income, the best performancewas that of the treatment where 70% recommended doseof NPK using conventional fertilizers was supplied to thecrop through fertigation. This treatment also resulted inhighest B:C ratio (3.03) by virtue of fetching higher yieldand gross income, and incurring comparatively low grossinvestment.From this study, it is evident that application of 70 or100% recommended NPK, through fertigation using water-soluble fertilizers, results in higher yield in watermelon hybridgrown during rabi-summer season. However, from the pointof view of economics, 70% N:P:K fertigation usingconventional fertilizers is more profitable. Hence, it isconcluded that for better performance and profitability fromhybrid watermelon grown during rabi-summer, supply of70% recommended dose of NPK through fertigation usingconventional fertilizers, is appropriate.REFERENCESAndrade Junior, A.S., de  Dias, N. da S.  Figueiredo Junior,L.G.M. Ribeiro, V.Q. and Sampaio, D.B. 2009.Response of watermelon to nitrogen fertigation.IRRIGA, 14:115-122Anonymous. 2002. Commercial Vegetable Production Guide.Watermelon. Oregon State University, USABattilani, A. and Solimando, D. 2006. Yield, quality andnitrogen use efficiency of fertigated watermelon. ActaHort., 700:85-90Clothier, B., Scotter, D. and Harper, E. 1985. Threedimensional infiltration and trickle irrigation. Trans.Amer. Soc. Agri. Engrs., 28:497-501Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. 1983. Statistical Procedurefor Agricultural Research, Wiley-InternationalScience Publication, New York, USAGonsalves, M.V.I. Pavani, L.C., Fillho, A.B.C. and Feltrim,A.L. 2011. Leaf area index and furit yield of seedlesswatermelon depending on spacing between plants andN and K applied by fertigation. CientificaJaboticabal, 39:25-33Kadam, U.S., Deshmukh, A.D., Ingle, P.M. and Manjarekar,R.G. 2009. Effect of irrigation scheduling andfertigation levels on growth and yield of watermelon(Citrullus lanatus Thunb.). J. Maharashtra Agril.J. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 8(1):60-64, 2013Fertigation studies in hybrid watermelon64Univ., 34:319-321Ristimaki, L. 1999. Comparisons between different sourcesof phosphate applied directly to soil and viafertigation. Proceedings - International FertilizerSociety, 430, pp. 16Srinivas, K., Hegde, D.M. and Havanagi, G.V. 1989. Effectof nitrogen fertilization and plant population on plantwater relations and yield of watermelon under dripand furrow irrigation. Singapore J.  PrimaryIndustries, 17:79-86Vasanth Kumar, Shirol, A.M., Ravindra Mulge, Thammaih,N. and Prasad Kumar. 2012. Genotype xenvironmental interaction in watermelon (Citrulluslanatus Thunb.) genotypes for yield and quality traits.Karnataka J. Agril. Sci., 25:248-252Zhang BaoDong. 2011. Effects of different fertilizers onyield and quality of watermelons under drip irrigation.China Cucurbits and Vegetables, 24:17-19            (MS Received 06 August 2012, Accepted 06 November 2012, Revised 13 November 2012)J. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 8(1):60-64, 2013Prabhakar et al

Influence of Various Sources and Levels of Fertilizer Applied through Fertigation on Hybrid Watermelon Grown in Rabi-Summer

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Influence of Various Sources and Levels of Fertilizer Applied through Fertigation on Hybrid Watermelon Grown in Rabi-Summer

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