Watermelon fertilizer: the economic benefits of foliar nutrition

A field trial conducted in Vietnam confirmed: spraying Poly-Feed™ and Haifa MKP™ on the leaves results in higher yield and profit

 
The field trial tested the farmer's practice – a base fertilizer program – against Haifa's treatment: the farmer's watermelon fertilizer practice + Poly-Feed™ and Haifa MKP™ foliar sprays.  The results, as shown in the table and graphs below, were in favor of Haifa's treatment – there is higher profit per Ha and higher yield.
 
 

Crop/cultivar

Watermelon
Country / location Vietnam / Can Tho province
Trial type Open field
Seasons Dry and Rainy season, 2012
Area 2 ha (1 ha/season)
Haifa products tested Haifa MKPTM, Poly-FeedTM 15-30-15, Poly-FeedTM 16-8-34
Application method Foliar nutrition
Variety properties Name: TN 755
Growth time: 55-60 days
Fruit weight: 4-5 kg
Average Yield: 30-40 tons/ha
Tested treatments Control (farmer practice): Base fertilizer program: 125N - 100P2O5 - 120K2O + 40CaO
Haifa treatment: Farmer practice +
Poly-FeedTM 15-30-15+TE (50grams/16 lits water, 320 lits/ha) spray 2 times after planted 13 days and 18 days;
Haifa MKPTM (100grams/16 lits water, 320 lits/ha) spray one time before flower setting 5-7 day;
Poly-FeedTM 16-8-34+TE (50grams/16 lits water, 320 lits/ha) spray 3 times after fruit setting and 5 days apart
Control treatment results Farmer practice: Dry season: 22.6 t/Ha
Rainy season: 18.5 t/Ha
Best treatment results Farmer practice + Haifa foliar: Dry season: 24.8 t/Ha
Rainy season: 19.9 t/Ha
Cost of best treatment 20 USD
Net benefit of best treatment Net profit difference : Dry season:639 USD/Ha
Rainy season: 578 USD/Ha
Benefit/cost ratio of Haifa treatment Dry season: 31.95
Rainy season: 28.90*
Conclusions The extra cost of the foliar treatment (20 USD/ha) gave higher profit per Ha (578-639 USD/ha). The foliar treatment cost/benefit ratio was higher in the dry season, when yields are usually low due to less than optimal growing conditions
Reference MSc. HUYNH TRI CUONG, Agronomic Director
 
 
* Although the fertilizer costs were higher, the total cost for each season was lower, due to lower pests infection in the foliar nutrition treatments, resulting in less pesticides use.