Production technology for organic watermelon
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Date
2011
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College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani to find out a suitable date of planting and the effect of different doses of FYM on the growth, yield and economics of organic watermelon from October 2010 to March 2011. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with four replications. The Main plot treatments consisted of five dates of planting (D1- October 15th, D2- November 1st, D3- November 15th , D4- December 1st and D5- December 15th. The sub plot treatment consisted of four levels of nutrients viz. (T1-5 kg FYM plant-1, T2-4 kg FYM plant-1, T3-3 kg FYM plant-1 and T4-2 kg FYM plant-1 + 7:2.5:2.5 g NPK plant-1 [control] - POP Recommended dose of KAU). Plants sown on earlier planting date recorded significantly more number of branches, maximum vine length, female flowers plant-1, total fruit plant-1, total fruit ha-1, marketable fruit plant-1, marketable fruit ha-1, marketable yield ha-1, average fruit weight, fruit diameter, flesh thickness and fruit girth compared to the later planting dates. Flower opening was significantly influenced by planting dates. The earlier planting took maximum days to first harvest and maximum crop duration compared to later planting dates. Quality attributes like total sugar and non-reducing sugar were significantly higher for earlier planting dates. Uptake of N and K was more in earlier planting dates compared to that of later planting dates. Gross return, Net return and B: C ratio of water melon were recorded higher for earlier planting dates. The highest level of nutrient (5 kg FYM plant -1) recorded maximum days to first harvest and took more crop duration. Maximum number of branches plant-1, maximum vine length , total fruit plant-1, marketable fruit ha-1, marketable yield ha-1, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness and fruit girth was also recorded by the highest level of nutrient ( 5 kg FYM plant -1) compared to the lower levels of nutrients. Uptake of N, P and K was also significantly more in plots receiving highest level of nutrient. The available N, P and K content in soil was also significantly more in plots receiving highest level of nutrient. The highest Gross return, Net return, B: C ratios for watermelon were also recorded by the highest level of nutrient (5 kg FYM plant -1).
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