EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND BIO-FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CANTALOUPE

Abstract

This investigation was carried out in sandy loam soil at the experimental farm of El-Kassasien Horticulture Research station, Ismaelia Governorate, during the two successive winter seasons 2005 and 2006, to study the effect of different types and rates of organic and bio-fertilizers on plant growth, yield component and yield quality. Results revealed that the highest vegetative growth, i.e., plant height, number of leaves and branches, leaf area as well as fresh and dry weight of cantaloupe plant were recorded by using chicken manure at different rates plus bio-fertilizer followed by cattle manure plus bio-fertilizer treatments and the lowest values were recorded by compost treatment at different rates plus bio-fertilizer.

Concerning plant chemical contents, i.e., N, P, K and chlorophyll as well as fruit chemical contents, i.e., T.SS, nitrate and heavy metals Cd and Pb the results showed that, in general N, P and chlorophyll concentrations in leaves as well as nitrate content in fruits were higher by using chicken manure at different rates plus using mixture of Biovit plus Biomagic than the other treatments. The plant supplied with cattle manure at different rates recorded the highest values of fruit Cd content. Furthermore, the K concentration in leaves as well as fruit T.SS content were significantly increased by using cattle manure at different rates and mixture of Biovit plus Biomagic. On the other hand, concentration of Pb in fruit was higher by using compost treatment at different rates which gave the lowest values. Cantaloupe plants which were fertilized with chicken manure at different rates plus using mixture of Biovit plus Biomagic produced the highest fruit yield components, i.e., early, marketable and total yield, as well as fruit characters as compared with the other tested treatments in this study. Concerning root rhizosphere of Fusarium spp. populations, results showed that counts of Fusarium spp/1g dry soil were higher in plots treated by low rates of organic fertilizers meanwhile the lowest Fusarium spp. was recorded with high rates of organic fertilizers plus using mixture of Biovit plus Biomagic.