Guan'gai paishui xuebao (Dec 2021)
Coupling Irrigation and Calcium Fertilization to Improve Growth, Quality and Yield of Muskmelon
Abstract
【Objective】 Melon is one of the most important cash crops in China, and increasing its yield without compromising fruit quality is desirable to melon farmers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how to achieve this goal by optimizing irrigation and calcium fertilization. 【Method】 We used the Tinglin variety as the model plant and compared three irrigations: sufficient irrigation using 220.45 mm of water (W1), and deficit irrigation using 2/3 (W2) and 1/2 (W3) of the water used in W1 respectively; and two calcium fertilizations: 0.68 L/per plant (Ca1) and 0 (Ca0). In each treatment, we measured sugar accumulation, yield and quality of the fruit, as well as the change in its physiological traits. 【Result】 ①In all treatments, fruit diameter increased asymptotically as time elapsed. ②Sufficient irrigation increased melon size and fruit yield but reduced irrigation water productivity. Imposing a moderate deficit irrigation was optimal for improving both irrigation water use efficiency and fruit quality, but if the deficiency was too severe, the resulting water stress would hinder melon growth and reduce fruit yield as a result. ③Compared with the control without calcium fertilization, applying Ca fertilizer not only increased fruit yield, weight of individual melons and irrigation water productivity, it also increased fruit quality by increasing fruit hardness and reducing titratable acid content in the fruits. 【Conclusion】 Irrigation and calcium fertilization both affected melon growth, sugar accumulation, and the ultimate fruit yield and quality. A moderate deficit irrigation combined with calcium fertilization was optimal for improving market value of the muskmelon without compromising its yield. These results have important implications for muskmelon production in northwestern China and in other regions which have similar climate and soil conditions.
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