ISHS Acta Horticulturae 700: International Symposium Towards Ecologically Sound Fertilisation Strategies for Field Vegetable Production
YIELD, QUALITY AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF FERTIGATED WATERMELON |
| Authors: | A. Battilani, D. Solimando |
| Keywords: | dynamic fertigation, root zone, dry matter accumulation, gross margin |
| Abstract:
Trials on a watermelon crop were carried out in 2000, 2002 and 2003 in a sub-humid area on fertile soils (Po Valley, Italy). The crop was plastic mulched and protected by a small tunnel during the early growth stage. The experimental design consisted of split plots with 4 replications: a Not Irrigated-Not Fertilised Control (NINF); a Irrigated-Not Fertilised Control (INF), and both “Static” and “Dynamic” fertigation. Static and Dynamic fertigation increased commercial yield by 33.7% and 57.7% respectively compared with the NINF treatment. The INF control increased the 1st class yield by 5.8%. There were no differences in 2nd class yield, waste yield and soluble solids in the fruit between treatments. Fruit K and Mg contents were not affected by fertigation, whereas Ca content increased by about ten times. Relative to NINF, the gross margin of the INF treatment increased by 6.6%, and the profit from the Static and Dynamic treatments were greater by 2798 and 4674 Euro ha-1 y-1 respectively. Dry matter accumulation and partitioning and root zone volume algorithms were developed. | |
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