Impact of Cyanobacteria Filtrate, Compost Tea and Different Rates of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality of Cantaloupe Plants
D. K. Farrag
Department of Vegetarian Restaurants, Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
A. A. Mehesen
Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
M. H. Kasem
Department of Vegetarian Restaurants, Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
O. A. Alaa El-Dein *
Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This work was carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station Farm during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the response of cantaloupe cultivars (Shahd El-Dokki) to spraying with cyanobacteria filtrate and compost tea either alone or mixed under different N levels (60, 120 and 240 kg N ha-1). A split–split plot design with four replicates was used. Results indicated that foliar application with cyanobacteria filtrate + compost tea attained a highly significant response for increased vegetative growth characters with the highest plant height (159.8 and 162.6 cm plant-1), number of leaves plant–1 (72.9 and 75.3), number of branches plant–1 (4.3 and 4.4), leaf area plant–1 (68.1 and 70.3 cm2), leaves fresh weight (437.9 and 448.5 g plant-1), leaves dry weight (43.4 and 45.1 g plant-1) compared to control (tap water) in both seasons, respectively. Furthermore, fruit yield and its components as well as leaf content of chlorophyll and chemical constituents gave a similar trend with application of N rate up to 240 kg N ha-1.
Foliar application with cyanobacteria filtrate + compost tea with increasing N fertilization up to 240 kg N ha-1appeared to be the most efficient treatment for more vigorous growth, fruit yield and its components.
Keywords: Cyanobacteria filtrate, compost tea, cantaloupe plant, vegetative growth, fruit yield