Page 70 - D:\Video IPSyoFS22\

Application rates of poultry manure on the biochemical properties of watermelon varieties

1 Tahir Dalorima , Siti Zaharah Sakimin, Ramisah Mohd Shah
* 2
1

1 Laboratory of Crop Science, School of Fishery and Food Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
Kuala Nerus, 21030 Terengganu, Malaysia.
2 Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia,
43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author: tahirdalorima@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Fruit growers have been compelled to produce high-quality fruits due to increased competition in the
market. In addition to macro and micro-nutrients, studies have shown that poultry manure contains
calcium, magnesium, sulphur as well as phytohormones that influence cellular metabolism and that in-
turn influences plants quality, growth, and yield. It was on this backdrop that the application of poultry
manure at different application rates (T1: 0tHa-1, T2: 10 tHa-1, T3: 20 tHa-1 and T4: 30 tHa-1) were
studied during the cultivation season 2021 on two watermelon varieties (V1: Golden delight and V2:
New dragon). Results for fruit weight showed that T3 and T4 applied on both V1 and V2 gave the
significantly higher heavier fruit weights. At the same time, T1V1 (4.82T/Ha) produced the least
significant weight of fruits determined. Chlorophyll content was significantly higher in T3 (36.38) and
T4 (37.03) in V2, while V1 when treated with T1 (27.81) and T2 (28.84) had the lower significant
content of leaves chlorophyll. Results for antioxidant activity and lycopene content showed that all
organic fertilizers in V1 were significantly lower than in V2. Moreso, T3 and T4 in V2 gave statistical
higher values for lycopene content (4.74 and 5.01 respectively) and antioxidant activity (50.84 and
52.86 respectively). TSS, rind thickness, and juice content are statistically superior in T3 and T4 when
applied to V2 as compared to V1. In summary, T3 and T4 on new dragon variety of watermelon
produced the higher results for yield and quality metrics determined.

Keywords: Watermelon, Quality, Poultry manure, Organic fertilizer