STUDIES ON YIELD AND ECONOMIC RETURNS OF LONG MELON AS AFFECTED BY NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION

Abstract

Long melon (Cucumis meta L var. Utilissimus Duth and Full) belongs to the family cucurbitaceae, is popular summer season vegetable fruit crop. It is grown for tender fruits which are mainly consumed as raw and in salad form with salt. The fruits are used in preparing pickles and curries. Its fruits are commonly eaten during hot-waves in summer to satisfy the quenching thrust due to their demulcent and cooling effect. In India, very little relevant information on different aspects of fruit production of long melon like optimum fertilization, spacing, time of sowing seed rate and other cultural requirements is available. Out of various factors influencing the fruit yield of long melon optimum dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and consultant dose of potash, time of planting and distance and their interrelationship are considered to be of vital importance and determining the economics and yield of long melon. The present investigation was carried out on Horticultural Research Centre of S.V.B.P.U.A.&T., Meerut during summer season of 2003-04 and 2004-05. The university located at 29.40 latitude, 77.46° longitude and 237 m. above mean sea level. Climate is categorized in semi arid subtropical climate with moderate summers and severe cold winters, the annual average rainfall 700mm and potential evaporation 1600mm. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam, deep and mildly alkaline (pH 8.04). Before the sowing of the experiment, soil samples were drawn from 0-15 cm soil layer by a core sampler, 8 cm diameter from 5 spots. These five samples were pooled to make one homogenous samples. Soil sample was then analyzed for organic carbon (Walkely and Black method), 0.5 m NaHC0 3 (pH 8.5) extractable P and N, NH 4 0 AC-extractable K was described by (1). The status of organic carbon was 0.37 and 0.39, available P 2 0 5 15.2 kg and 15.8 kg/ha and available Kp 210 kg and 212 kg/ha during both the years of experimentation. Long melon was sown on 2 nd and 4 th March in the year of 2004 and 2005 respectively. The seeds were sown on one side of full row at spacing 90.00 cm line to line and 45 cm plant to plant. After germination of seeds, only one healthy seedling per hill was allowed to develop. Half dose of total nitrogen and full dose of P 2 O b and constant dose of Kp (40 kg/ha) was applied at the time of sowing. The remaining half dose of Nitrogen was applied as top dressing in two equal split doses after 25 and 40 days of seed sowing. All the cultural operations were done timely according to the need of crop. The data were recorded at 15 days intervals and analyzed statistically by method of analysis of variance and F test suggested by (2). The data indicated in Table-1 that the maximum yield qha-l was recorded with 40 kg N/ha beyond which the fruit yield of long melon was reduced. The lowest yield of long melon was determined with unfertilized plots during both the seasons. All the phosphorus doses noticeably affect the yield of long melon (q/ha) during both the seasons. The-highest fruit yield was critically examined in plots when phosphorus were at supplied at the rate of 32 kg P 2 0 5 q/ha whereas, recorded minimum with unfertilized plots. The results of present investigation showed nitrogen and phosphorus gave the better results due to the additional food material synthesized by higher dose of nitrogen and phosphorus doses which might have helped in increasing number of fruits with their weight. Nitrogen favours the effective utilization of carbohydrates and other organic fractions resulting in enlargement of fruits. Thus the role of nitrogen is justified in increasing the fruit diameter. The changes due to higher dose of nitrogen and phosphorus application gave the better performance on yield attributing characters. These results are in agreement with findings of (3, 4) Economics of the treatments Nitrogen : The data showed in Table-1 revealed that the average maximum cost of production were recorded Rs. 42236.75 where the nitrogen was applied at the rate

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Prog. Agric. 7 (1/2) : 149-150 (2007)
STUDIES ON YIELD AND ECONOMIC RETURNS OF LONG MELON AS
AFFECTED BY NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION
Mukesh Kumar, Manoj Kumar
Singh,
Sunil Malik, S. Prakash and R. Baboo*
Department
of
Horticulture
S.V.B.P.
Univ.
of
Agric.
and
Tech.
Meerut-250110
Long melon
(Cucumis
meta L var. Utilissimus Duth and
Full) belongs to the family cucurbitaceae, is popular
summer season vegetable fruit crop. It is grown for tender
fruits which are mainly consumed as raw and in salad
form with salt. The fruits are used in preparing pickles
and curries. Its fruits are commonly eaten during hot-
waves in summer to satisfy the quenching thrust due to
their demulcent and cooling effect. In India, very little
relevant information on different aspects of fruit production
of long melon like optimum fertilization, spacing, time of
sowing seed rate and other cultural requirements is
available. Out of various factors influencing the fruit yield
of long melon optimum dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and
consultant dose of potash, time of planting and distance
and their inter-relationship are considered to be of vital
importance and determining the economics and yield of
long melon.
The present investigation was carried out on
Horticultural Research Centre of S.V.B.P.U.A.&T., Meerut
during summer season of 2003-04 and 2004-05. The
university located at 29.40 latitude, 77.46° longitude and
237 m. above mean sea level. Climate is categorized in
semi arid sub-tropical climate with moderate summers
and severe cold winters, the annual average rainfall
700mm and potential evaporation 1600mm.
The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam,
deep and mildly alkaline (pH 8.04). Before the sowing of
the experiment, soil samples were drawn from 0-15 cm
soil layer by a core sampler, 8 cm diameter from 5
spots.
These five samples were pooled to make one
homogenous samples. Soil sample was then analyzed
for organic carbon (Walkely and Black method), 0.5 m
NaHC03 (pH 8.5) extractable P and N, NH40 AC-
extractable K was described by (1). The status of
organic carbon was 0.37 and 0.39, available
P20515.2
kg and 15.8 kg/ha and available Kp 210 kg and 212
kg/ha during both the years of experimentation.
Long melon was sown on 2nd and 4th March in the
year of 2004 and 2005 respectively. The seeds were
sown on one side of full row at spacing 90.00 cm line to
line and 45 cm plant to plant. After germination of seeds,
only one healthy seedling per hill was allowed to develop.
Half dose of total nitrogen and full dose of
P2Ob
and
constant dose of Kp (40 kg/ha) was applied at the time
of sowing. The remaining half dose of Nitrogen was
applied as top dressing in two equal split doses after 25
and 40 days of seed sowing. All the cultural operations
were done timely according to the need of crop. The
data were recorded at 15 days intervals and analyzed
statistically by method of analysis of variance and F test
suggested by (2).
The data indicated in Table- 1 that the maximum
yield qha-l was recorded with 40 kg N/ha beyond which
the fruit yield of long melon was reduced. The lowest
yield of long melon was determined with unfertilized plots
during both the seasons. All the phosphorus doses
noticeably affect the yield of long melon (q/ha) during
both the seasons. The -highest fruit yield was critically
examined in plots when phosphorus were at supplied at
the rate of 32 kg
P205
q/ha whereas, recorded minimum
with unfertilized plots. The results of present investigation
showed nitrogen and phosphorus gave the better results
due to the additional food material synthesized by higher
dose of nitrogen and phosphorus doses which might
have helped in increasing number of fruits with their
weight. Nitrogen favours the effective utilization of
carbohydrates and other organic fractions resulting in
enlargement of fruits. Thus the role of nitrogen is justified
in increasing the fruit diameter. The changes due to
higher dose of nitrogen and phosphorus application gave
the better performance on yield attributing characters.
These results are in agreement with findings of (3, 4)
Economics of the treatments
Nitrogen : The data showed in Table-1 revealed that the
average maximum cost of production were recorded Rs.
42236.75 where the nitrogen was applied at the rate
•Reader, A.S. (P.G.) College, Lakhaoti, Bulandshar

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150
Studies on yield and economic returns
of
long melon
Table -1 : Studies on green fruit yield and economic return of Long melon as affected by nitrogen and phosphorus.
Treatments Green fruit Yield
2004
Nitrogen levels (kg ha-l)
0 95.2
20'
132.3
40 267 0
60 232.9
CD.
at 5% 2.9
Phosphorus levels (kg/ha)
0 161.4
16 185.8
32 198.4
CD.
at 5% 2.52
(q/ha)
2005
90.9
128 7
263.3
228.7
4.7
157.1
182.0
194.6
4.0
Economics of treatments (Average of two years)
Cost of
Production
(Rs./ha)
3880.00
4032 00
4184.00
42236 75
-
3880 00
4140.00
4400.00
-
Gross
income
(Rs./ha)
9310.00
13057.00
26519 50
23084.00
-
15926.00
18396.00
19655.50
-
Net
Return
(Rs./ha)
5430.00
9024.75
22335.00
18747.25
-
12046.00
14256.00
15255.50
-
Net Profit
(Rs./ha)over
control
-
3594.75
16905.00
13317 25
-
-
2210.00
33.09.50
-
60kg/ha. The cost production decrease with
continuously over control. The maximum gross income
of Rs.26,519
.50 were
recorded were recorded where the
nitrogen was applied at the rate 40kg/ha but the next
best treatment were recorded Rs. 23084 where nitrogen
was obtained at the rate of 60 kg/ha. The gross income
was gradually decreased over
control.
The maximum net
return were recorded Rs. 22335.00 where nitrogen was
applied at the rate of 40 kg/ha. Followed by Rs.
18747.25 than nitrogen was obtained at the rate of 60
kg/ha.
The other treatments decreased net return over
control.
The maximum net profit Rs. 16905.00 were
recorded where nitrogen
was*
applied at the rate of 40kg
/ha.
The next best treatment of Rs. 16905.00 when
nitrogen was obtained at the rate of 60 kg/ha compared
to the other treatment.
Phosphorus : The data indicated in Table-1 that the
average cost of production were recorded Rs. 4400.00
where phosphorus was applied at the rate of 32 kg/ha
followed by
Rs.
4140.00 and minimum Rs. 3880/- under
control.
The maximum average gross income were
recorded Rs. 19655.50.00 under the treatment P2 where
phosphorus was applied at the rate of 32 kg/ha followed
by Rs. 18396.00 and minimum Rs. 15926.00 under
control.
The data indicated average maximum net return
Rs.
15255.50.00 where phosphorus was applied at the
rate of 32kg/ha. Gradually continuously decrease net
return Rs. 14256.00 under the treatment P., where
phosphorus was obtained at the rate of 16kg/ha and
minimum Rs. 12046.00 under
control.
The net profit were
also influenced by the level of phosphorus. The
maximum net profit Rs. 3309.50 was obtained under the
treatment P2 where phosphorus was applied at the rate
of 32 kg/ha and minimum net profit were recorded Rs.
2210.00 under the treatment P I when phosphorus was
obtained at the rate of 16 kg/ha over control.
REFERENCES
1.
Jackson, M.L. (1967). Soil chemical analysis,
Prentice
Hall
of
India
Pvt.
Ltd., New Delhi.
2.
Cochran, W.G. and Cox, G.N. (1977) Experimental
designs. Asia
Publication
House,
Bombay llnd
Edition.
3. Belik, V.F. and Kolephoshina, T.G. (1988). The
productivity of water melon in relation to fertilizer
rates and plant density.
Referatzhurn.
355-360
(Hort.
Abst.
60 : 3926).
4.
Kumar, R; Singh and Pujari, M.M. (1990). Effect of
nitrogen and phosphorus on Pointed gourd. Har.
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