Chemigation for soil-borne pathogen management on melon growth under drought stress

Abstract

In this study, the effect of fungicides used to control the soil-borne pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis), on melons growth (Cucumis melo cv. Edalı), under water stress was researched. The experiment was conducted in a field naturally infested as in a split-plot design with four replications in 2011–2012, at Çumra in the Konya Plain, Turkey. The main plots were four levels of water supply. Irrigation was supplied at the appropriate crop development stage with enough water to fill the soil depth of 0–90 cm to capacity (I₁), 25 % (I₂), 50 % (I₃) decreased water supply levels and in a water-free (I₄) condition were maintained. In subplots, fungicides that are no fungicide (F₀), Fludioxonil + Metalaxyl-m (F₁) and Hymexazol (F₂) were used. The F₁ (250 ml da⁻¹) and F₂ (500 ml da⁻¹) were drip chemigated at planting and again 15 days after planting. Both fungicides applied through chemigation were similarly effective on soil-borne pathogen management and resulted in yields higher than untreated control in both years. The highest yield (2.88–3.75 t da⁻¹) was obtained under no water stress (I₁) and F₁ applications (p < 0.01). Other fruit quality parameters were significantly affected by treatments. The seasonal water consumptive use (ET) of I₁ treatment was recorded at 470 and 501 mm, respectively, for both years.