1. Types of fertilizers: divided into two categories: organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers.
Organic fertilizer is the most important fertilizer for cultivating melons. Including manure (horse, cow, sheep, pig, chicken manure), compost (straw, weeds, leaves, etc.), soil fertilizer (kang soil, wall soil, nitrate soil, etc.), cake fertilizer (residue after oil extraction) As well as plant ash, bone meal, etc. that are rich in phosphorus and potassium. With the development of large-scale chicken farms, poultry manure has become an important source of organic fertilizer for growing melons.
There is also green manure. In addition to the artificial grass (milk vetch, alfalfa, wild rice) that is plowed before sowing, bitter beans are the traditional green manure for top dressing of Hami melons in Xinjiang.
Inorganic fertilizers are mainly synthetically produced chemical fertilizers such as urea, ammonium phosphate, and potassium salts. Although A-grade green food also allows a small amount of chemical fertilizers to be applied, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mainly used in the composting of base fertilizers and are used after they are decomposed to reduce the residual impact on food.
2. Fertilization period: divided into two periods: base fertilizer and top dressing.
Basic fertilizer is mainly applied during sowing and planting before planting. The quantity is relatively large, accounting for about 60-80% of the total fertilizer amount. The whole field should be spread and then plowed or both sides of the melon ditch should be plowed. Open a fertilizing ditch and apply it. There are also cases where base fertilizer is applied in advance during autumn plowing.
Top dressing is carried out during the growth period of melons. It is mainly quick-acting fertilizers and can be applied in batches during the seedling stage, vine extension stage, fruit setting stage and fruit development stage. Most of the methods are to dig holes on the side of the melon row and bury them or apply them with irrigation.
3. Fertilization amount.
The best amount of fertilizer applied per hectare is 22,500-30,000 kilograms of stable manure. If necessary, 225-300 kilograms of superphosphate or nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer and 750-1,500 kilograms of cake fertilizer can be added per hectare.
4. Irrigation period.
It can be divided into four periods: irrigation before sowing, irrigation during the seedling stage, irrigation during the flowering and fruit setting period, and irrigation during the fruit development period. Irrigation should be as sufficient as possible before sowing, so that the "bottom moisture" of the soil can ensure the comprehensive water needs for seedling emergence and seedling stage. Try not to irrigate the seedlings during the seedling stage, which is called "squatting seedlings".
Squatting seedlings can prevent melon seedlings from growing too much, promote root systems to penetrate deep into the soil, prevent drought, and prevent premature aging. Irrigation during the fruit setting period is very important. It is the critical period of water requirement in the life of melons. The amount of water should be larger and the frequency of irrigation should be slightly more. Irrigation should be controlled in the later stages of fruit development, especially irrigation should be stopped 7-10 days before harvest to prevent the sugar content of the fruit from decreasing.
5. Irrigation methods: divided into three types: drip irrigation, furrow irrigation and border irrigation.
Drip irrigation is an advanced irrigation method that can save more than 60% of water, is less likely to cause soil hardening, and reduces the incidence of disease. It is worthy of vigorous promotion. Furrow irrigation is divided into two types: series irrigation and parallel irrigation. It is low cost and easy to master, and is a commonly used method in various places. Border irrigation is often used in semi-arid areas such as North China. It consumes a lot of water and is heavy, so it is no longer used in many cases.
6. Drainage.
Mainly in rainy areas in the south and low-lying lands with high groundwater levels, the accumulated water in melon fields and melon ditches needs to be drained away in time to avoid damage to the melon root system and disease. Generally, water accumulation should not exceed 12 hours.