Effects of irrigation frequency on yield and quality of melon under open field conditions in Minqin oasis

摘要

A better understanding of the effects of irrigation frequency on production and quality of melon(Cucumis melo cv.Huanghemi)plants can help to propose optimal irrigation scheduling.For this purpose,experiments were conducted to determine the most suitable irrigation frequencies in melon grown in field conditions under furrow irrigation in the Minqin oasis,northwest China.Three irrigation intervals(15,10 and 7 days,T1,T2 and T3,respectively)were tested in the study.Plants were adequately watered from sowing to final thinning stage with the same irrigation frequency,and then were irrigated at 15,10 and 7 days intervals,depending on the treatment.The total water applied was equal for all the treatments.The results showed that higher the irrigation frequency,the higher was the biomass,fresh weight of the single melon,leaves and stem,TSS,total sugar and total amino acids.However,the firmness of fruit decreased with increase in the frequency of irrigation.Although the yield under T3 was the highest(27.8 t ha-1)and that of T1was the lowest(19.06 t ha-1),the market value of T2 and T3 was significantly higher than that of T1 and there was no obvious difference between T2 and T3.The study indicates that the T2(10 days)is the best irrigation interval for melon(Cucumis melo cv.Huanghemi)in the Minqin oasis.