The effectiveness of the use of microfertilizers on the yield and biochemical composition of watermelon of different ripeness groups

Relevance. The priority direction in vegetable growing is the scientifically justified use of types and doses of micronutrients that can increase the yield of watermelon fruits and improve their quality. Due to the large number of different types of fertilizers currently appearing on the market, it is necessary to choose the right ones and study them in optimal doses for growing high-quality melon products.

Material and methodology. Objects of research: watermelon varieties Meteor, Zemlyanin, Kholodok and preparations: iron chelate, zinc chelate, vegetable Aquarin. Options using these fertilizers for double foliar treatment of plants during the growing season have been studied. The research was carried out during 2019-2021 at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station.

Results. During the study, a positive effect of the tested drugs on the quantitative and qualitative indicators of products was established. As a result of foliar treatments of plants in all variants, the yield exceeded the control variant (without treatments). A comparative analysis of biochemical data showed that the dry matter content was at a fairly high level. As a result of the use of zinc chelate in the Meteor and Kholodok cv., the dry matter content increased by 0.4%. A similar increase in the indicator was obtained when using the drug Aquarin vegetable on the Zemlyanin and Kholodok cv. The content of total sugar in the Meteor and Kholodok cv. was higher than the control (without treatments), and in the Zemlyanin cv. it was at the control level. The fructose content in the tested variants of all varieties exceeded the control. As a result of the use of water-soluble fertilizers for plant treatment, the content of ascorbic acid increased in the variants with treatment in the Meteor cv. – by 1-1.5 mg%, in the Zemlyanin cv. – by 0.8-1.1 mg%, in the Kholodok cv. – by 0 .1-0.7 mg% compared to control (without treatments). Nitrate levels in watermelon fruits of different ripening periods did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (60 mg/kg).

1. Sannikova T.A., Machulkina V.A., Antipenko N.I., Taranova E.S. Dietetic foods from the fruit of the watermelon. Theoretical and applied problems of agro-industry. 2012;(3):59–62. (In Russ.) https://www.elibrary.ru/pgcdqr

2. Baubekova D.G., Soprunova O.B., Bairambekov Sh.B., Polyakova E.V. Influence of plant protectives based on bacillus atrophaeus b-11474-on agronomic characteristics of melons in Astrakhan region. Vestnik of Astrakhan state technical university. 2022;1(73):25-29. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24143/1812-9498-2022-1-25-29 https://www.elibrary.ru/uzgvxf

3. Aitbayeva A.T., Absatarova D.A. and others. The effect of bioorganic fertilizers on biometric parameters and biochemical composition of watermelon and melon fruits. Food. Ecology. Quality: proceedings of the XVII International Scientific and Practical Conference. – Yekaterinburg: Ural State University of Economics, 2020; pp. 24-28. (In Russ.)

4. Kosanov S.U., Maslovsky S.A., Poleva N.I. Features of the technology of cultivation of watermelons on the Zhayylminsky massif of the Zhanakorgan district. In the collection: Agro-industrial complex of Russia: education, science, production. Collection of articles of the IV All-Russian (national) scientific and practical conference. Under the scientific editorship of M.K. Sadygova, M.V. Belova, A.A. Galiullin. Penza, 2022. pp. 73-76. (In Russ.) https://www.elibrary.ru/dubtrr

5. Gish R.A., Lazko V.E., Lukomets S.G., Yakimova O.V. New medium-ripening watermelon variety yubilyar for producers in the south of Russia. Polythematic online scientific journal of Kuban state agrarian university. 2016;(123):1532–1543. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21515/1990-4665-123-103 https://www.elibrary.ru/xdzxup

6. Cho E., Seddon J.M, Rosner B., Willett W.C, Hankinson S.E. Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Jun;122(6):883-892. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.122.6.883

7. Monatko K.V., Podpletnya O.A., Slesarchuk V.Yu. Experimental Study of anti-inflammatory properties of Lyophilic watermelon powder. Medical perspectives. 2012;17(4):25–29.

8. Katalymov M.V. Trace elements and micronutrients. L., 1965. 335 p. (In Russ.)

9. Arasimovich V.V. Biochemistry of watermelon. L., 1938. 255 p. (In Russ.)

10. Sokol P.F. Improving the quality of products of vegetable and melon crops. M.: Kolos, 1978. 293 p. (In Russ.)

11. Montelaro J., Taylor J. Grom watermelon more profitably. Louisiana exp. Station. 1977. P.5-8.

12. NeSmith D.S. Root destribution and yield of direct seeded and transplanted watermwlon. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sc. 1999;124(5):458-461.

13. Kovylin V.M., Borisov V.A., Borisova L.M., Maslovsky S.A. The effect of fertilizing system in a vegetable-forage crop rotation on the fertility parameters of alluvial meadow soil. Agrohimia. 2004;(10):14-21. (In Russ.)https://www.elibrary.ru/onussv

14. Litvinov S.S. Methodology of field experience in vegetable growing. M.: Russian Agricultural Academy, 2011. 649 p. (In Russ.)

15. Belik V.F., Bondarenko G.L. Methodology of field experience in vegetable growing and melon growing. M., 1979. 210 p. (In Russ.)

16. Ermakov A.I., Arasimovich V.V., Yarosh N.P. and others. Methods of biochemical research of plants. L.: Kolos, 1972. 456 p. (In Russ.)

17. Kolebochina T.G., Bykovsky Yu.A. Features of agrotechnology cucurbits crops in the zone of risky agriculture of the Russian Federation. Proceedings of the Kuban state agricultural university. 2016;(60):123-129. https://www.elibrary.ru/wmaliv

18. Litvinov E.A., Moskvichev A.Yu., Konotopskaya T.M. Improving the cultivation of rain-fed watermelon in the Volga region. Bulletin of the SSAU named after N.I. Vavilov (The agrarian scientific journal). 2006;(6):18. (In Russ.)

19. Borisov V.A. Fertilization of vegetable crops. M.: Kolos, 1978. 207 p. (In Russ.)

20. Berson G. Vegetables for every taste. Sredn-Uralsky Book Publishing House, 1993. 237 p.

21. Kumar M., Selvam R. Supplementation of vitamin E and selenium prevents hyperoxaluria in experimental urolithic rats. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2003;14(6):306–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0955-2863(03)00033-0

22. Mashkovsky M.D. State Pharmacopeia of the Russian Federation. M., Novaya Volna, 2012. (In Russ.)

23. Nikitina L.P., Solovyova N.V. Clinical vitaminology. Chita, 2002. 84 p (In Russ.) https://www.elibrary.ru/wfswlv

24. Savchenko A.A., Anisimova E.N., Borisov A.G., Kondakov A.E. Vitamins as the basis of immunometabolic therapy. Krasnoyarsk, 2011. 213 p. ISBN 978-5-94282-093-7. (In Russ.) https://www.elibrary.ru/rcgvej

25. Golubkina N.A., Kekina E.G., Molchanova A.V., Antoshkina M.S., Nadezhkin S.M., Soldatenko A.V. Plant antioxidants and methods of their determination. Moscow: Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2018. 66 p. ISBN 978-5-901695-76-0. (In Russ.) https://www.elibrary.ru/vlnauj