Effect of mineral and organic fertilizer rates on melon vegetative growth and its productivity

Two field experiments were carried out at the farm of Agriculture Researches Station, Fac. Agric, Cairo Univ., Giza during two successive summer seasons of 2011 and 2012 aiming to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers and their interaction on melon vegetative growth and its yield. The obtained results cleared that applying 2 ton compost +60 kg N /fed enhanced plant length, number of leaves, plant fresh and dry weight, number of fruits, average fruit weight and yield per plant and per feddan in both seasons. The highest values of vegetative growth characters, average fruit weight, number of fruits and yield were recorded with 150 kg K₂O/fed compared to the other treatment of 100 kg K₂O/fed in both seasons. No significant differences were recorded on vegetative growth character (plant length and number of leaves) due to the application of foliar calcium treatment in both seasons. But there was a significant effect on plant fresh and dry weigh, average fruit weight, number of fruits and yield due to calcium treatment. The interactions between treatments in this study have been discussed.