Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION, cilt.28, sa.4, ss.621-638, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
Muskmelon (Citcumis melo L. cv. 'Polidor') were grown under field conditions to investigate the effects of different nitrogen (N) levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha(-1)) on plant growth, water use efficiency, fruit yield and quality (weight, sizes, and water-soluble dry matter), leaf relative water content, and macro nutrition tinder three different irrigation regimes. Irrigation was applied based on cumulative class A pan evaporation (Ep). Plant treatments were as follows: (1) well-watered treatment (C) received 100% replenishment of Ep on a daily basis, (2) water-stressed treatment (WS) received 75% replenishment of Ep at three-day intervals, and (3) severely water-stressed (SWS): treatment received 50% replenishment of Ep at six- day intervals. Plants grown under C at 120 kg N hat produced significantly higher biomass (175.6 g plant(-1)), fruit yield (36.05 t ha(-1)), fruit weight (2.25 kg fruit(-1)), and leaf relative water content (93.5%) under increasing N levels than did the two deficit irrigation treatments. The WS or SWS treatments caused reductions in all parameters measured except water-soluble dry matter (SDM) concentrations in fruits compared with those receiving unstressed (C) treatment. The WS irrigation regime with 80 kg ha-1 N significantly improved the fruit yield and size, plant dry matter, leaf area, and IWUE compared with the SWS regime. Increased N significantly enhanced foliar N in the unstressed plants. Increasing N rate in the SWS treatment did not increase fruit yield with the same trend found in the WS and C treatments with increasing N levels. The yield reduction under severe water shortage was much more severe at high N rates. Water use (ET) at the C treatment at 120 kg hat N ranged between 160 and 165 cm, while SWS reduced ET to 90 cm at 0 and 40 kg ha(-1) N. Nitrogen supply modified water use at C and WS irrigation regimes. Muskmelon yield response to N rate was quadratic and differed with the level of irrigation. This moderate water deficit (SW) may be an alternative irrigation choice with a suitable N application rate for muskmelon growers in arid arid semi-arid regions if the goal is to irrigate an agricultural area with limited water supply for more growers, but not if it is maximizing economic yield. Growers should accept a significant yield reduction in exchange for water conservation.