Poonam Sahjlan, Neha Verma, Jagveer Rawat, Basanti Brar, Garima Narwal and Jyoti Malik
Abstract
The study investigates the impact of phosphate- rich organic manure (PROM) on the yield and quality of watermelon (Citrulus lanatus) in India. The application of PROM is evaluated in terms of its influence on vine length, chlorophyll content, fruit size, sweetness, nutrient content, and overall yield. The different parameters obtained with PROM were compared to traditional chemical fertilizers i.e., di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). For this, pot experiments were designed with varying treatments including, T0 (control), T1 (100% PROM + 0 DAP), T2 (75% PROM + 25% DAP), T3 (50% PROM + 50% DAP), T4 (25% PROM + 75% DAP) and T5 (0% PROM+ 100% DAP). The recommended doses of N and K were the same for all the treatments. Results revealed that T1 (100% PROM) produced the greatest vine length (123.00 cm), vitamin C content (7.74 mg/100g), total sugar content (7.02 g/100g), protein content (0.57 g/100g), chlorophyll concentration (37.40 mg/g FW), total yield per plant (5.36 kg), and fruit count (2.60). Conversely, T5 (100% DAP) demonstrated comparatively lower values across these metrics, indicating that organic PROM contributes more significantly to growth and nutrient quality than DAP alone. Statistical analysis, including one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests, confirmed significant differences across treatments for these parameters (p<0.05). These findings suggest that PROM, particularly in higher proportions is more effective in enhancing plant growth, nutrient density, and productivity than chemical DAP. Thus, PROM presents a promising alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers, potentially advancing sustainable agricultural practices.