Abstract
The need to reduce nitrogen (N) fertilizer pollution strengthens the importance of improving the utilization efficiency of applied N to crops. This requires knowledge of crop N uptake characteristics and how fertilization management affects it. A three-year field experiment was conducted from May to September in central Spain to investigate the influence of different N rates, which ranged from 11 to 393 kg ha-1, applied through drip irrigation, on the dynamics of N uptake, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), fruit yield and quality of a ‘Piel de sapo’ melon crop (Cucumis melo L. cv. Sancho). Both N concentration and N content increased in different plant parts with the N rate. Leaves had the highest N concentration, which declined by 40-50% from 34-41 days after transplanting (DAT), while the highest N uptake rate was observed from 30-35 to 70-80 DAT, coinciding with fruit development. In each year, NUE declined with increasing N rate. With N fertilizer applications close to the optimum N rate of 90-100 kg ha-1, the fruits removed approximately 60 kg N ha-1, and the amount of N in the crop residue was about 80 kg N ha-1; this serves to replenish the organic nutrient pool in the soil and may be used by subsequent crops following mineralization.
Highlights
Melon is an important horticultural crop that is grown throughout the world, mainly in Asia, America, and Europe, with an overall production of 27.7 million tonnes and about 1.3 million hectares planted (Faostat, 2011)
The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the effects of N supply on the dynamics of N uptake by a ‘Piel de sapo’ melon crop; 2) to evaluate the effect of N supply on melon yield and quality; 3) to quantify the N exported with the harvested fruit and the N content in the crop residue that may be used by the following crops
Stem N concentration showed a slight increase at the beginning of crop development in 2005 (Fig. 1b), reaching its maximum value at 34 days after transplanting (DAT)
Summary
Melon is an important horticultural crop that is grown throughout the world, mainly in Asia, America, and Europe, with an overall production of 27.7 million tonnes and about 1.3 million hectares planted (Faostat, 2011). As in other cucurbit crops (Tanemura et al, 2008), the indeterminate growth habit makes it necessary to apply N during the harvest period. For this reason, it is important to know the total N requirement and the dynamics of N uptake, according to the plant phenology, in order to achieve the maximum N use efficiency
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