Yield response and economic evaluation of drip-fertigated muskmelon cultivated under mulched conditions

Abstract

A study was carried out to standardize the moisture regime (irrigation) and fertigation (N:P:K levels) for improved crop establishment, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of muskmelon under drip irrigation cum fertigation and mulching during 2017-18 and 2018-19. The treatments included three levels of drip irrigation viz. 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), 80% of ETc and 60% of ETc , with and without silver black polythene plastic mulching in main plots and three levels of fertigation viz. 100% of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 80% of RDF and 60% of RDF in subplots. Drip irrigation at 100% of ETc and fertigation at 100% of RDF with mulching helped to improve the vine length, number of primary branches, average fruit weight, diameter and yield when compared with conventional (control) as well as other treatments. These results were statistically at par with that obtained under drip irrigation at 80% of ETc and fertigation at 80% of RDF with mulching. The yield under drip fertigation varied from 168.8-202.8 q/ha, which is about 16.5% higher as compared to conventional treatment. Drip fertigation under mulched conditions resulted in 17.2% higher net returns as compared to conventional treatment. Thus, it may be concluded that drip fertigation at 80% of ETc and fertigation at 80% of RDF with plastic mulching is beneficial for improving productivity of muskmelon with about 80.9% and 20.0% saving of water and fertilizers as compared to conventional method in the present study region