Abstract
Nutrient disorder and presence of disease-causing agents in soilless media negatively influence the growth of muskmelon. To combat these issues, use of environmentally-friendly sanitation techniques is crucial for increased crop productivity. The study was conducted under greenhouse and field conditions to investigate the effect of two different sanitation techniques: steaming and formalin fumigation on various media’s characteristics and their impact on muskmelon yield. Media: jantar, guar, wheat straw and rice hull and peat moss of 10% air-filled porosity and sanitized with formalin and steaming. Steaming of guar, jantar, and wheat straw increased the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations by 13.80–14.86% and 6.22–8.45% over formalin fumigation. Likewise, P and K concentrations in muskmelon were higher under steaming. Steaming significantly inhibited the survival of Fusarium wilt sp. melonis, root knot nematode sp. meloidogyne and nitrifying bacteria in media than formalin fumigation. In conclusion, steaming decreased the prevalence of nitrifying bacteria and pathogens which thus improved the NO3−–N:NH4+–N ratios, P and K nutritional balance both in the media and muskmelon transplants. Hence, steaming as an environment-friendly approach is recommended for soilless media. Further, optimization of steaming for various composts with different crops needs to be investigated with steaming teachnique.
Highlights
Nutrient disorder and presence of disease-causing agents in soilless media negatively influence the growth of muskmelon
Interactive effects of media and sanitation techniques were significant for plant growth traits like seed germination, root length, leaf chlorophyll contents, number of leaves, leaf area, stem thickness and shoot fresh weights (Table 1)
All the media under the influence of steaming increased the yield p lant−1 than transplants grown in media receiving formalin fumigation
Summary
Nutrient disorder and presence of disease-causing agents in soilless media negatively influence the growth of muskmelon. To combat these issues, use of environmentally-friendly sanitation techniques is crucial for increased crop productivity. Media: jantar, guar, wheat straw and rice hull and peat moss of 10% air-filled porosity and sanitized with formalin and steaming. Agricultural wastes must be considered as an attractive source for making value-added products in order to address food security c hallenge[12,21] In this regard, guar, jantar, wheat straw and rice hull are abundant agricultural wastes that can be utilized and processed through composting. Guar and jantar being leguminous in nature, have low nutrient requirements for their production, commercially produced and may be utilized for N source of fertilization[22]
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