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Nitrogen and Water Interactions in Trickle-Irrigated Watermelon

Dep. of Biological Systems Engineering, Univ. of Nebraska, 233 LW Chase Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0726

T. A. Doerge^*

Dep. of Soil and Water Science, Univ. of Arizona, 429 Shantz Bldg. no. 38, Tucson, AZ 85721

* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Rising water costs and concern for groundwater contamination by NO₃ and other agricultural chemicals are forcing growers in arid regions to improve irrigation and N fertilization efficiency. Applying N and water through a subsurface drip irrigation system in conjunction with in-season monitoring techniques for assessing crop water and N status has the potential to greatly improve water and N use efficiency. The objectives of this research were to: (i) investigate the interactive effects of water and N applied through a subsurface trickle irrigation system on watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum and Nakai var. lanatus] fruit yield and on the potential for leaching losses of NO₃, and (ii) determine the optimum range of soil water tension for subsurface trickle-irrigated watermelon. Field experiments were conducted during 1990 and 1991 on a reclaimed Casa Grande soil (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Natrargid) in southern Arizona. Levels of target soil water tensions and fertilizer N were arranged in a factorial design to determine fruit yield response surfaces. Tensiometers at 0.3- and 0.6-m depth were used to monitor soil water tension throughout the growing season. Marketable watermelon yield showed a pronounced positive water x N interaction in both years of the study. Predicted marketable yields were 90 Mg ha^–1 when mean soil water tension was 6 kPa and applied N was between 200 and 270 kg ha^–1 in 1990 and a predicted yield maximum of 102 Mg ha^–1 at 7.2 kPa and 336 kg N ha^–1 in 1991. Scheduling of irrigations using feedback from tensiometers proved very useful in providing optimum amounts of water while avoiding conditions that favor N loss through leaching or denitrification.

Received for publication January 3, 1994.

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