Growing melons with Haifa fertilizers

Fertilization recommendations for various fertilization methods: Base-dressing, Side-dressing, fertigation and foliar feeding

 

Growing medium: Open field.
Soil type: Light.
Plant population: 12000-15000 plants/Ha.
Expected yield: 30-50 T/Ha.

 

The growing period is based on 75 days from transplanting or 85 days from sowing.

 

 

Recommended average rates of nutrients for melon

N	P2O5	K2O
-----------------Kg/Ha-------------
130-150	130-140	260

 

 

A. Base-dressing (Kg/Ha):

The rates are based on the assumption that 40% of the nitrogen, 40% of the potassium and all the phosphate will be applied as base-dressing.

 

Nutrient requirements			Suggested fertilizers
N	P2O5	K2O	AN	SSP	Multi-K
55	100	110	70	550	240

 

 

B. Side-Dressing (Kg/Ha)

Week after planting or emergence	Nutrient requirements			Suggested fertilizers
	N	P2O5	K2O	AN	SSP	Multi-K
3	10	-	32	-	-	70
4	30	-	-	90	-	-
5	10	-	32	-	-	70
6	30	-	-	90	-	-
7	10	-	32	-	-	70
9	10	-	32	-	-	70
Total	100		128	180		280

 

 

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (34%N).
SSP = Simple Super Phosphate (8.4 P).
Multi-K = Potassium nitrate (13% N and 38% K).
In case of calcium deficiency a part of the AN will be replaced by calcium nitrate.

 

Recommended average rates of nutrients for melons

N	P	K
---------------- Kg/Ha -----------------
130-150	44-62	220

 

Fertilization of melon (B)

Growing Medium: Open field.
Soil type: Light.
Plant population: 12000-15000 plants/Ha.
Expected yield: 30-50 T/Ha.

 

The growing period is based on 75 days from transplanting or 85 days from sowing.

 

A. Base-dressing (Kg/Ha):

The rates are based on the assumption that 40% of the nitrogen, 40% of the potassium and all the phosphate will be applied as base-dressing.

 

Nutrient requirement			Suggested fertilizer
N	P	K	AN	SSP	KNO3
55	44	90	70	520	240

 

 

B. Fertigation (Kg/Ha/Day)

Growth period	Nutrient demand			Suggested fertilizer
	N	P	K	AN	MAP	Multi-K
Sowing - Flowering	1.2	0.2	1.2	2.0	0.7	3.0
Flowering - Fruit set	3.0	0.3	2.0	6.5	1.0	5.0
Fruit set - Neting	5.0	0.3	4.0	10.5	1.0	10.5
Neting - Harvesting	1.0	-	1.0	2.0	-	2.5

 

AN = Ammonium Nitrate (34% N).
SSP = Single Super Phosphate (8.4 P).
MAP = Monoammonium Phosphate (12% N and 27% P).
Multi-K = Potassium nitrate (13% N and 38% K).
In case of calcium deficiency a part of the AN will be replaced by calcium nitrate.

 

Nutrition NFT database for melon

	Concentration
	Rockwool
Parameter	Nutrient Solution	Root Environ.
EC (mS/cm)	2.2	3.0
	(mg/l)
NH4	18.0	9.0
N-NH4	13.8	6.9
K in sap
K	293.3	273.7
Ca	190.5	280.7
Mg	30.4	60.8
N, total
NO3	1007.5	1240.0
N-NO3	227.4	279.9
S, total
SO4	144.2	336.4
P
H2PO4	121.3	77.6
Si	21.1	16.9
Na
Fe	0.559	0.838
Mn	0.549	0.385
Zn	0.262	0.458
B	0.216	0.540
Cu	0.032	0.064
Mo	0.048	-

 

Important note: The a/m database was prepared to fit Dutch conditions (low transpiration and low EC of the water). Some modifications may be required to correspond to your local conditions.

 

sources:

• N. Straver. Nutrient solutions for vegetables and flowers grown in water or substrates. 10th Ed. 1994.
• C. de Kreij, Sonneveld C., Warmenhoven M.G. and Straver N.A. Guide values for nutrient element contents of vegetables and flowers under glass. 3rd Ed. 1992.

 

 

Nutrients requirement of muskmelon

Variety: Galia.
Soil type: Sandy.
Plant density: 25,000 plants / Ha.
Expected yield: 56 T/Ha.
Growth period (days from seeding/planting to harvest): Selective.

 

 

Time interval (days after emergence or planting)	Nutrients requirement (Kg/Ha/Day)
	N	P2O5	K2O
1-10	0.15	0.34	0.04
11-20	0.20	0.46	0.04
21-30	0.35	0.80	0.08
31-40	0.90	2.06	0.22
41-50	1.30	2.98	0.30
51-60	2.50	5.73	0.30
61-70	4.30	9.85	0.42
71-80	2.40	5.50	0.54
81-90	1.20	2.75	0.52
91-100	1.00	2.29	0.33
101-110	0.50	1.15	0.16
111-120	0.30	0.69	0.20
Total (Kg/Ha)	151.00	345.84	30.12

Source: B. Bar-Yosef. Fertilization under drip irrigation.

 

Approximate nitrogen requirement

	lbsN/acre/week		kgN /ha/week
Growth stage	low	high	low	high
Vegetative growth	5	10	5.6	11.2
Early flowering/fruit set	10	20	11.2	22.4
Fruit bulking	10	15	11.2	16.8
First harvest	5	10	5.6	11.2

Source: Blaine Hansen, 1996. Fertilizing Row Crops With Drip Irrigation Nov/Dec. Irrigation Journal.

 

 

Fertigation in open field in Thailand

Plant Density: 12,000 – 18,000 plants/Ha.
Type of soil: Medium – Heavy.
Expected yield: 30 – 40 MT/Ha.

 

Nutrient requirements

 

 

Requirement (Kg/Ha)
N	P2O5	K2O	MgO	CaO
210	150	340	55	180

 

 

 

 

Fertilizers and recommendations

 

Time of application	Suggested fertilizers (Kg/Ha)				Nutrient uptake (Kg/Ha)
	Urea	12-61-0	Multi-K	Magnisal 11-0-0+16	N	P2O5	K2O	MgO
Seeding – flowering	15	75	48	-	22	46	22	-
Flowering – small fruit	15	75	255	166	66	46	188	25
Small fruit – 10 days before harvesting	70	95	435	200	122	58	200	30
Total	100	245	738	366	210	150	340	55

 

 

Multi-K = 13-0-46 (Potassium Nitrate).
Calcium should be applied according to soil analysis results.

 

Foliar recommendations

1. Initiation of flowering: Foliar sprays with Poly-Feed 11-44-11, at 0.5%, 3-4 sprays in 10 days intervals.
2. Boost yield and quality: Foliar sprays with Multi-K, at 1-2%, 4-6 sprays after fruit set in 10-15 days intervals.

The following recommendations should be adjusted according to local conditions and experience. All Haifa products are compatible with most pesticides and plant nutrients, more than one chemical can be sprayed simultaneously in a single application.

 

 

Fertilization of melons in France

(Suggested by L. Aubertin)

 

Growing method: Open field.
Soil type: Light, calcareous with pH 6-7.5.
Cultivar: Sezanne (mostly) & Cantaloup = Cantalou Charentais.
Growth period: planting: mid-April, harvest: throughout July.
Plant density: 9,000 – 10,000 plants/ha.
Expected yield: 35 T/Ha.

Nutrition intensity is dependant upon growth conditions, as follows:

Growth conditions	Expected yield (Ton/ha)	N	P2O5	K2O	MgO
Open field	18-20	150-200	80-150	200-220	80
Protected by low tunnels (chenilles)	25-35	150-200	100-150	250-300	100
Greenhouse, on soil	40-50	200-350	100-150	300-450	100-150

 

Traditional irrigation

Products	Pre-Plant	Flowering & first fruit Dev.	fruit develop.	Remarks
	---------Kg / ha----------
MULTIGRO 20-15-10 6 Months	400-600			Late varieties Add MgO (High K level in soil)
MULTIGRO 11-11-18+5 4 Months	400-600			(Possible Complement NCa & PN)
Multi K Prill or Multi-KMg 11-0-39+4		200	400	top dressing
PRILL'OR 23-0-23		200-400		top dressing
Haifa Cal		200-300	100	top dressing
Magnisal		50 (5X10)		Foliar: at first female flowers

 

Drip irrigation

	Vegetative "re-start"	Flowering & first fruit Dev.	Fruit Develop.	Before Harvest	Remarks
Products	---------Kg / ha----------
MAP	100-150	50-100			Fertigation
SOLUPLANT 12-36-12+2	200				Fertigation
SOLUPLANT 18-6-26+2		300			Fertigation
HUMIK 2-2-4 or 6-4-8		100L (3x35L)			Fertigation
Multi K or Multi KMG 11-0-40+4		100-200	300	100	Fertigation
Magnisal		50 (5X10)			Foliar: at first female flowers

 

HUMIK is a Liquid fertilizer Multi K inside in 12L or 20L containers with Duclos Humic acids.

 

 

Plant analysis guide

Nutrient sufficiency ranges (source: A & L, Agronomy Handbook, Ankerman & Large Eds.)

 

 

Melon	N	S	P	K	Mg	Ca	Na	B	Zn	Mn	Fe	Cu	Al
	-------------------- % --------------------							------ p.p.m --------
From	2.00	0.30	0.20	2.50	0.50	2.00	0.01	25	20	50	60	5	20
To	6.00	1.00	0.80	5.00	1.00	3.5	0.20	75	80	100	120	20	150

 

Need more information about growing melons? You can always return to the melon fertilizer .