Abstract
Continuous application of chemical fertilizers in plant cultivation can lead to the deterioration of the soil environment, resulting in reduced crop yield and quality. Currently, organic fertilizers, such as vermicompost, can partially replace chemical fertilizers and maximize yields while maintaining soil fertility. However, the effects of chemical fertilizers combined with vermicompost on watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) yield and quality are unclear. A field experiment was carried out on the watermelon cultivar Lihua No. 6. Six treatments were applied: no fertilizer (CK, control, 0N–0P–0K), 100% chemical fertilizer [CF, 5.4N–1P–5.4K (256, 47, and 255 kg·ha −1 )], 75% chemical fertilizer + 25% organic fertilizer [A1, 5.4N–1P–5.4K (192, 35, and 191 kg·ha −1 ) + 2250 kg·ha −1 vermicompost], 50% chemical fertilizer + 50% organic fertilizer [A2, 5.4N–1P–5.4K (128, 24, and 127 kg·ha −1 ) + 4500 kg·ha −1 vermicompost], 25% chemical fertilizer + 75% organic fertilizer [A3, 5.4N–1P–5.4K (64, 12, and 64 kg·ha −1 ) + 6750 kg·ha −1 vermicompost], and 100% organic fertilizer (A4, 9000 kg·ha −1 vermicompost). Indices related to the growth, yield, and quality of watermelons were determined. Compared with CK, chemical fertilizer alone or in combination with organic fertilizers significantly increased growth parameters (plant height and leaf area) and chlorophyll content. The five fertilizer treatments enhanced the single fruit weight, yield, and biomass. In addition, the yield of reduced chemical fertilizer plus organic fertilizer was comparable to that of watermelons treated with CF. Compared with CF, the fertilizer treatments, especially the 1:1 mixture of chemical and organic fertilizer (A2) group, had elevated fruit-soluble solids and soluble sugar content, and reduced organic acid levels. Therefore, a combination of 50% chemical fertilizer and 50% organic fertilizer can effectively enhance the yield and quality of watermelons. These findings have important implications for guiding the management of watermelon fertilization and development of sustainable agriculture.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizers increased watermelon height and leaf area relative to no fertilizer.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatust0 - Treatment
- chemical fertilizer alone or in combination with organic fertilizerse0
- Outcome
- plant height and leaf areae0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- CKe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with CK, chemical fertilizer alone or in combination with organic fertilizers significantly increased growth parameters (plant height and leaf area) and chlorophyll content.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizers increased watermelon chlorophyll relative to no fertilizer.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- chemical fertilizer alone or in combination with organic fertilizerse0
- Outcome
- chlorophyll contente0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- CKe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with CK, chemical fertilizer alone or in combination with organic fertilizers significantly increased growth parameters (plant height and leaf area) and chlorophyll content.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Five fertilizer treatments enhanced watermelon fruit weight, yield and biomass.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- five fertilizer treatmentse0
- Outcome
- single fruit weight, yield, and biomasse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The five fertilizer treatments enhanced the single fruit weight, yield, and biomass.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced chemical fertilizer plus organic fertilizer gave watermelon yield comparable to chemical fertilizer.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- reduced chemical fertilizer plus organic fertilizere0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- comparablee0
- Comparator
- CFe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the yield of reduced chemical fertilizer plus organic fertilizer was comparable to that of watermelons treated with CF.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer treatments, especially A2, elevated watermelon fruit soluble solids and soluble sugars versus CF.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- fertilizer treatmentse0
- Outcome
- fruit-soluble solids and soluble sugar contente0
- Direction
- elevatede0
- Qualifier
- especially the 1:1 mixture of chemical and organic fertilizer (A2) groupe0
- Comparator
- CFe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with CF, the fertilizer treatments, especially the 1:1 mixture of chemical and organic fertilizer (A2) group, had elevated fruit-soluble solids and soluble sugar content, and reduced organic acid levels.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer treatments, especially A2, reduced watermelon organic acid levels versus CF.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- fertilizer treatmentse0
- Outcome
- organic acid levelse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Qualifier
- especially the 1:1 mixture of chemical and organic fertilizer (A2) groupe0
- Comparator
- CFe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with CF, the fertilizer treatments, especially the 1:1 mixture of chemical and organic fertilizer (A2) group, had elevated fruit-soluble solids and soluble sugar content, and reduced organic acid levels.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend equal chemical and organic fertilizer shares for watermelon yield and quality.
- Taxon
- watermelonsCitrullus lanatuse0
- Treatment
- 50% chemical fertilizer and 50% organic fertilizere0
- Outcome
- enhance the yield and qualitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a combination of 50% chemical fertilizer and 50% organic fertilizer can effectively enhance the yield and quality of watermelons.”
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