Effect of foliar spraying mixed with Fish Amino Acids (FAA) and Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) extract on growth, yield and quality of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

Abstract

Foliar spraying with mixed Fish Amino Acids (FAA) and Oriental Herbal Nutrients (OHN) extract are essential elements for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) growth and development, production and significantly increase lycopene and total soluble solids content without degrading the natural resources. The mixture of F₃O₃ (3ml.l^-1 of FAA + 3ml.l^-1 of OHN) shows the highest vine length, internode length and number of leaves with 601.6 cm; 27.4 cm and 129.3 at 60 DAT respectively,while the control (F₀O₀) was 402.8 cm; 23.4 cm and 97.2 respectively. Highest yield (ton.ha^-1) and fruit length (cm) were recorded under F₃O₃ with 82.0 ton.ha^-1 and 42.1 cm respectively, where the control (F₀O₀)was 53.3 ton.ha^-1 and 33.6 cm respectively. The high concentration of FAA in a mixture had negative effect on total soluble solids content but their effects were positive in lycopene content while the high concentration of OHN had a positive effect on the total soluble solids content in brix percentage and less effect on Lycopene content. The highest brix content were 14.2 in F₁O₃ followed by 14.1 in F₁O₂, the least found in F₃O₁ with 12.6. The lycopene content were high in F3O3 (105.91μg.g^-1) followed by F₃O₂ (105.04μg.g^-1) where the least were (38.26μg.g^-1) F₃O₃ fresh weight.

Keywords: Watermelon; Fish Amino Acids; Oriental Herbal Nutrients and Bio stimulant