Key Points of Fertilization Management of Muskmelon

Melon is a biennial vine herb of Cucurbitaceae and Melon. Muskmelon root system occupies a large area of soil volume. It has strong drought resistance and good permeability of sandy loam. Fertilization technology is the key to high yield and quality.

Key Points of Fertilization Management of Muskmelon

1. Fertilizer Requirement Characteristics

Muskmelon needs a large amount of fertilizer, and it absorbs the least nutrient at seedling stage. After flowering, the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium gradually increases. The peak absorption of nitrogen and potassium falls sharply from 16 to 17 days after fruit setting and from 26 to 27 days after fruit setting. The absorption peak of phosphorus and calcium was 26-27 days after fruit setting and lasted until fruit ripening. The period from flowering to the end of fruit enlargement is the period when muskmelon absorbs the most mineral nutrients and the most efficient period of fertilizer. Calcium and boron not only affect the sugar content of fruit, but also affect the appearance of fruit. When calcium is insufficient, the surface of fruit is rough and white. When boron is deficient, the pulp is prone to brown spots. Muskmelon is a chlorine-avoiding crop. It is not suitable to use ammonium chloride, potassium chloride and other fertilizers.

2. Main Points of Fertilization

(1) Fertilization of open-field melon:
Muskmelon requires continuous supply of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during its growth period. The absorption ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is about 2:1:3.7. For each 1000kg melon production, it needs to absorb 2.5-3.5 kg of nitrogen, 1.3-1.7 kg of phosphorus and 4.4-6.8 kg of potassium. The amount of fertilizer absorbed was the largest in the result period. The absorption peak of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer was 16-17 days after sitting melon, and the absorption peak of phosphorus fertilizer was slightly later. In the early growth stage, too much nitrogen will cause chemical melon. When the fruit is near maturity, too much nitrogen will affect the increase of sugar. Therefore, long-term and slow-acting nitrogen fertilizer should be the main nitrogen fertilizer. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers play an important role in improving fruit quality and early ripening. Muskmelon is sensitive to Ca, Mg, B and other elements, and should be applied as appropriate. In continuous cropping plots, the application of trace elements should be considered. Fertilizer types should be high-quality organic fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium, such as oil cake fertilizer, fish fertilizer, human manure, chicken, duck manure, etc. Base application is the main method.

(2) Base fertilizer
All of them were applied when ploughing and land preparation. The amount of fertilizer applied accounted for 1/3-2/3 of the total amount of fertilizer applied. High-quality chicken manure or pig manure 2500-3000kg per mu and fine manure such as human manure 500-1000KG were applied. Ditch or acupoint application was used for centralized application. In addition, the effect of base application of superphosphate is better, generally 25-50 kg per mu.

(3) Topdressing
Usually ammonium sulfate or flushing fertilizer is applied 50-100 kg per mu. At seedling stage and after picking, 1-3 times were followed up at Fruit-setting stage. Manure and urine fertilizers can be used for the types of manure, which can be diluted 3 to 5 times with water and then poured.

(4) Fertilization of melon in protected field:
In the protected area, besides basic application, urea and potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be applied 20 kg per mu, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate 20 kg per mu when the melon is sitting stable (eggs are big), combined with irrigation in underground ditches and Topdressing Urea and potassium dihydrogen phosphate with water. If Mulched with plastic film, plants grow faster in the early stage and need more water and fertilizer, some chemical fertilizers can be added to the base fertilizer, such as urea 10kg, phosphorus 40kg, strip or spraying.

It is feasible to increase investment appropriately because of the high output value of melon planted in protected area. In order to increase early yield, ethephon can be sprayed once on the second true leaf and on the fourth true leaf at a concentration of 100 ml/L, which helps to increase the weight of female flowers and average single melon, as well as the thickness of pulp and the content of soluble solids and vitamin C.

In order to increase the rate of sitting melon of head-stubble melon in early spring protected area, 2.5 g/kg of sitting melon spraying can be used to spray melon embryo evenly when female flowers are in or about to open. When the young melon eggs were large, the growth of young fruit could be promoted by applying 1.5 ml/kg gibberellin to the handle once. Spraying 500-1000mg/kg of Ethephon on the surface of the fruits after the fruits have basically grown can be harvested earlier without affecting the flavor.