Growth and Yield of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) with Different Levels of Fertigation and Drip Irrigation

Abstract

The effects of different levels of fertigation and drip irrigation on growth and yield of watermelon were investigated. The experiment was carried out at Department of Olericulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala. Fertigation treatments were 75, 100 and 125 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers (RD) and irrigation treatments at 0.6 and 0.8 evapotranspiration (ET) rates. One control was taken with surface irrigation and conventional soil application of fertilizers. It was noticed that vine length increased linearly with increase in fertigation and irrigation levels. Increasing irrigation levels increased fruit equatorial and polar diameters. Levels of fertigation and irrigation exerted significant influence on number of fruits/plant and yield/plant. Total yield was highest at 100 per cent RD (91.1 t/ha) compared to 125per cent RD (80.13 t/ha). There was increase in number of fruits/plant and fruit yield with increase in irrigation level from 0.6 to 0.8 ET. Fertigation at 100 per cent RD recorded the highest yield of 8.51 kg/plant. Fertigation and irrigation levels had no influence on fruit weight and days to first harvest.