Abstract
ABSTRACT The evaluation of the yield of crops and their efficiency of use of water and nitrogen is essential to optimize the management of production factors. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of irrigation regimes and nitrogen doses in fertigation on fruit yield and efficiency of use of water and nitrogen by the Top Gun watermelon hybrid. The study was conducted in Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil, from August 4 to October 15, 2015. The study used a completed randomized block design with four repetitions, five irrigation depths (110.17, 156.86, 221.16, 268.87, and 317.09 mm), and five doses of nitrogen in fertigation (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1 applied as urea). Fruit yield and water use efficiency were not affected by nitrogen doses; however, there was a significant interaction of the factors for the efficiency of nitrogen use. The highest yield (39,549.45 kg ha-1) was obtained using 233.48 mm of water during the growth cycle. The water depth that promoted the maximum efficiency of water use was 110.42 mm, and nitrogen use was most efficient using 232.21 mm of water and 50 kg ha-1 of nitrogen.
Highlights
The use of water and nitrogen is essential to increase crop yield
Water use efficiency (WUE) affects crop yield according to the irrigation depth applied during the growth cycle whereas nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can improve crop yield as the nitrogen levels are increased
Melo et al (2010) analyzed a watermelon culture under different irrigation regimes and observed that a water depth of 266 mm promoted a maximum fruit yield of 52,400 kg ha-1 and WUE of 19.6 kg m-3, and the latter was lower than the value obtained at a water depth of 204.67 mm (23.2 kg m-3)
Summary
The use of water and nitrogen is essential to increase crop yield. These resources should be used with caution because the lack or excess of these resources strongly affects agricultural yield. Water use efficiency (WUE) affects crop yield according to the irrigation depth applied during the growth cycle whereas nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can improve crop yield as the nitrogen levels are increased. Understanding these efficiencies and their implication in the productive responses of crops is fundamental to optimize the use of production factors (MONTEIRO et al, 2008). Melo et al (2010) analyzed a watermelon culture under different irrigation regimes and observed that a water depth of 266 mm promoted a maximum fruit yield of 52,400 kg ha-1 and WUE of 19.6 kg m-3, and the latter was lower than the value obtained at a water depth of 204.67 mm (23.2 kg m-3)
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