Effect of water and fertilizer application on melon water use efficiency and quality with different furrow irrigation in the oasis arid region of northwest china | 西北内陆旱区不同沟灌水肥对甜瓜水分利用效率和品质的影响

Chinese. 【目的】甜瓜是西北内陆旱区的一种主要经济作物,探讨不同沟灌水肥对甜瓜水分利用效率(WUE)和品质的影响,提出适合该地区的甜瓜水肥高效利用技术模式。【方法】于2008和2009年在甘肃武威中国农业大学石羊河流域农业与生态节水试验站开展了连续两年的田间试验,在膨果期分别设置了3个灌水下限水平：65%―70%、55%―60%、45%―50%的田间持水量(FC);施肥量设置为：160、120、80 kgN?hm-2和无肥对照处理;灌溉方式为常规沟灌和隔沟灌。【结果】膨果期适度水分亏缺有利于提高甜瓜的水分利用效率,并在一定程度上改善其品质;相同施肥量条件下,灌水量下限为55%―60% FC处理其WUE、总可溶性固形物(TSS)和Vc含量普遍高于灌水量下限为65%―70% FC处理的结果;相同水分条件下,施肥量为120 kgN?hm-2处理其产量、WUE、TSS和Vc含量均高于施肥量为160 kgN?hm-2和施肥量为80 kgN?hm-2处理的结果。隔沟灌处理的WUE比常规沟灌高4.5%―10.6%。【结论】适合于该地区的甜瓜水肥组合模式为膨果期灌水下限为55%―60%FC和全生育期施氮量为120 kgN?hm-2。

English. 【Objective】 Melon is one of the major cash crops in the Oasis arid region of Northwest China. The alternative of high water and fertilizer use efficiency can be obtained by investigating the effect of water and fertilizer application on melon water use and quality with different furrow irrigations. 【Method】 Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at Shiyanghe experimental station for water-saving in agriculture and ecology of China Agricultural University, situated in Wuwei city, Gansu province. Three irrigation lower limits with values of 65%-70%, 55%-60%, and 45%-50% of field capacity (FC) were designed in fruit swelling period. In the experimental plots nitrogen fertilizer was applied at the rates of 160 kgN?hm-2, 120 kgN?hm-2, 80 kgN?hm-2, and no N fertilizer was applied in the control treatment plots. Water was applied to the field with conventional and alternate-furrow irrigation. 【Result】 Results indicated that appropriate water stress in fruit swelling period increased water use efficiency (WUE) and improved fruit quality of melon. For the same fertilizer application rate, the treatment with irrigation lower limit of 55%-60% FC had higher WUE, total soluble solid content and vitamin C content of melon fruit compared to the treatment with irrigation lower limit of 65%-70% FC. For the same irrigation level, the treatment with 120 kgN?hm-2 nitrogen application had higher yield, WUE, total soluble solid content and vitamin C content of melon fruit compared to the treatment of 160 kgN?hm-2 and 80 kgN?hm-2, nitrogen application. The WUE of the alternate-furrow irrigation was 4.5%-10.6% higher than the conventional furrow irrigation. 【Conclusion】 The alternative with irrigation lower limit level of 55%-60% FC in the fruit swelling period and nitrogen application rate of 120 kgN?hm-2 is the best water and fertilizer management practice for melon in the experimental area.