Response of watermelon to foliar application of different water soluble fertilizer

A field experiment was conducted on response of watermelon to foliar application of different water soluble fertilizer at Micronutrient Research Scheme Farm, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry during Summer season of 2011. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. There were total six treatments, out of which four treatments of foliar application of different NPK fertilizer in which one treatment was through conventional fertilizer and other three treatments through different water soluble grades. Other two treatments viz., GRD + water spray and absolute control were included for comparison. The yield contributing characters viz., the average number of female flowers per plant, average numbers fruit/plant were found significantly higher in treatment of 0.830:1.338:1.630 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O kg ha -1 through water soluble grade and conventional fertilizer. The fruit setting was found statistically non significant. The earliness in harvesting was observed in between the treatment of foliar application of fertilizer through water soluble grade and through conventional fertilizer was 74 to 80 days after sowing. Foliar application of 0.830 : 1.338 : 1.630 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O kg ha -1 through water soluble fertilizer grades (15:10:15, 15:30:15, 8:12:24) significantly found increase in uptake of nutrients and fruit yield of watermelon (33.89 to 36.90 Mg ha -1 ) showed best to obtain higher yield along with good quality of watermelon (cv. KIRAN) followed by or through conventional fertilizers.