Growth, root morphology and leaf physiology of watermelon as affected by various rates and forms of nitrogen in the hydroponic system

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different rates and forms of nitrogen (N) on shoot growth androot morphological and leaf physiological responses of watermelon (cv. Crimson Tide F1) under hydroponic growthcondition. The nutrient solution experiment was conducted between January - March in 2018 by using an aeratedDeep Water Culture (DWC) technique in a fully automated climate room placed in the Plant Physiology Laboratoryof Erciyes University, Faculty of Agriculture, Kayseri in Turkey. Plants were tested under two N-Rates (N1: 1000 andN2: 2000 µM N) and three different N-Forms (Am-N: NH4+, Nit-N: NO3-, 50% mixture of both N-Forms Mix-N:NH4+NO3) by growing in 8 L pots filled continuously aerated nutrient solution (modified Hoagland). The experimentwas conducted with a completely randomized block design with four replications. From each pot two plants wereharvested 42 days after treatment (DAT) by separating into stem, leaf and root fractions. The results indicated thatshoot growth, root morphological and leaf physiological responses were significantly (p