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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Effect of foliar fertilization on sweet melon under saline conditions

I. Growth and yield

M.Ueda , S. M. Farah , S.Inanaga , Y. Takeuchi  and Y. Sugimoto

Abstract:

The response of sweet melon cv. "Bonansu 2" to two foliar fertilizer (FF) treatments O and FF spray under two salinity treatments (O and 0.60 dS/m NaCl) were studied using a sandponic bed system in a glasshouse. Salinity reduced vegetative growth and fruit yield significantly while the FF tended to increase both, attributes and indicated a more pronounced influence with advancement of plant development. Salinity also reduced the dry weights (DWs) of leaf, stem and roots by 14,9, and 9% respectively at peak flowering (PF) and by 41, 43 and 12% respectively at harvest. On the other hand FF increased the DWs by 9,5 and 17 %, respectively at PF and by 14,28 and 1 % respectively at harvest. The average reduction in fruit yield due to salinity and of the increase due to FF was 17 and 5 %, respectively. However, while the fruit yield increased under non-saline treatment did not exceed 1 %, there was 11% increase under the saline treatment. The results of this study suggest that application of FF can potentially promote melon production with low quality water (brakish water) or on salt affected soils.

Keywords:

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 4(2004) PP. 3-11