Abstract:

To investigate the effects of wood vinegar water-soluble fertilizer on watermelon growth and soil improvement, a field experiment was conducted in the saline-alkali region of Xinjiang, China, using Jincheng No. 5 watermelon as the test material. Treatment with application of wood vinegar water-soluble fertilizer and a control without it were established, and soil physicochemical properties as well as the growth, yield and quality of watermelon were systematically measured. The results showed that compared with the control, the application treatment improved the soil quality, as the pH value was significantly (p<0.05) decreased by 8.86% and contents of ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were significantly increased by 23.37%, 19.38%, and 19.75%, respectively. The application treatment also promoted the growth and development of watermelon, significantly increased the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value) by 41.43%; The fruit diameter, longitudinal diameter, and single fruit weight increased significantly by 10.40%, 12.47%, and 43.34%, respectively, resulting in effective improvements in both visual quality and yield. In conclusion, the application of wood vinegar water-soluble fertilizer is an effective agronomic measure for ameliorating saline-alkali soil and improving watermelon quality and yield.

Key words: wood vinegar, water-soluble fertilizer, watermelon, cultivation, quality