Response of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) to drip irrigation and fertigation under mulch conditions

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Date
2019
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm and Biochemical Laboratory, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to standardize the optimum moisture regime, NPK levels under drip irrigation and mulch for crop establishment, growth, yield and quality fruit production in muskmelon. Hybrid „MH-27‟ comprised as a plant material. The treatments included three levels of drip irrigation regimes i.e. at 100 per cent crop evapotranspiration (ETc), 80 per cent ETc and 60 per cent ETc along with mulch treatment (silver black polythene mulch and no mulch) under main plot treatments and three level of fertigation i.e. 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 80 per cent RDF and 60 per cent RDF was considered under sub plot treatments resulting in eighteen treatments combinations which were compared with the conventional practices. Drip irrigation at 100 per cent ETc and 100 per cent RDF under mulch improved vine length, number of primary branches, average fruit weight and yield which was statistically at par with drip irrigation at 80 per cent ETc and 80 per cent RDF. Further, it was noticed that yield from different treatments of drip fertigation varied from 168.8 q/ha to 201.8 q/ha which was 16 per cent higher from conventional system. Various quality parameters i.e. ascorbic acid and dry matter content were found to increase with increase in depth of irrigation and fertilizer dose. However, maximum total soluble solids (TSS) were observed with drip irrigation at 80 per cent ETc and 100 per cent RDF. The economic analysis revealed that highest net returns (Rs 130023/ha) were obtained under drip fertigation along with mulch application which was 17.2 per cent higher from conventional system. Thus, it may be concluded from the present investigation that drip fertigation at 80 per cent ETc level and 80 per cent RDF along with mulch application is beneficial to improve productivity and quality of muskmelon with saving of 80.85 water and 20 per cent fertilizer over the conventional method.
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