Effects of Vermicompost on Quality and Yield of Watermelon
ZHANG Ning1, REN Ya-li2, SHI Qing-hua1*, WANG Xiu-feng1, WEI Min1, YANG Feng-juan1
1College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai’an 271018, Shandong, China; 2Municipal Engineering Design Institute of Heze, Heze 274700, Shandong, China
Abstract：The effects of vermicompost in different volume ratios on watermelon〔Citrullus lanatus（Thunb.）Matsum. et Nakai〕yield and quality were studied. The results showed that the additional vermicompost could significantly increase available N, available P, available K, organic matter contents in soil, and increase the contents of N, P, K in watermelon plants and fruit. The concentrations of fructose, glucose, sucrose, VC, lycopene, and soluble protein were also enhanced. The fruit quality was improved and its yield was remarkably heightened. But the effect of treatment was greatly depended on the applying ratio of vermicompos. In this experiment, treatment with 50 % vermicompost showed the best results, and the full vermicompost treatment had less effect than that of 50 % treatment. But it was still better than other treatments.
