A. Delrio et al., FOLIAR DIAGNOSIS - VEGETATIVE INDEX FOR SEVERAL CULTIVARS OF WATERMELON, Communications in soil science and plant analysis, 25(9-10), 1994, pp. 1629-1640
Monitoring the nutrient status of a crop by tissue analysis is an impo
rtant tool in maximizing yields and avoiding nutrient deficiencies or
toxicities. Ten cultivars of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Trunb) Man
sfield] were grown under the same fertilization regimen throughout the
ir growth cycle and were sampled fortnightly in order to determine tot
al and soluble macronutrients. Cultivars grown under favourable greenh
ouse conditions had different but generally high nutritional requireme
nts. The data from total and soluble vegetative index [relation betwee
n mobile nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and immobile cal
cium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)] were used to distinguish between differe
nt cultivars. In every cultivar, soluble vegetative index was high res
pect to the total index.