Fertilization recommendations for growing pumpkins, depending on various factors and fertilization method
Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil supplied with organic matter. The ideal pH. is between 6.0 to 7.5, but it will grow on soils with a pH of up to 8.0.
Plant density : 7,000 – 7,500 plants / Ha.
Expected yield: 50 - 75 Ton/ha.
Approximate growth period (strongly dependent on variety and fruit size):
- Miniature, decorative pumpkins, (< 0.5 kg), 95 days.
- Small, decorative specialty varieties (0.5 – 2.5 kg), 105 days.
- Small to medium (2.5 – 5 kg), 110 days.
- Medium to large (5 – 13 kg), 120 days.
- Mammoth varieties (50 kg <), 120-130 days.
A. Base-Dressing
Apply at this stage the organic manure (~20 MT/ha), and the following amounts of mineral fertilizers just prior to seeding. In order to reduce the risk of seedling injury from the contact with the fertilizers it is recommended to apply them by broadcasting + disking in, or by splitting the fertilizers in two bands (5 cm if applied at seeding time).
| Required nutrients (Kg/ha) | Recommended fertilizers (Kg/ha) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | P2O5 | K2O | MgO | AN | SSP | SOP | Epsom salt |
| 55-70 | 30-45 | 90-120 | 20-30 | 165-210 | 160-315 | 36-48 | 150-230 |
AN = Ammonium nitrate (33.5% N).
SSP = Single-superphosphate (19% P2O5).
SOP= Potassium Sulfate (50% K2O).
Epsom salt = MgSO4 ( 13% MgO).
B. Side-Dressing
To be applied when vines start to spread
| Required nutrients (Kg/ha) | Recommended fertilizers (Kg/ha) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | K2O | MgO | AN | Multi-K | Magnisal |
| 55-70 | 130-180 | 20-30 | 15 | 290-370 | 125-180 |
Magnisal = Magnesium nitrate ( 11-0-0 + 16% MgO).
B’. In case fertigation setup is available
The A/M rates should be split into two applications:
1. When the vines start to spread.
2. Some 4 weeks later.
Foliar feeding
Effect of accompanying anion on uptake and translocation of K42 applied on https://www.haifa-group.com/crop-guide/vegetables/pumpkin-fertilizers-c… leaves (Chamel, 1969).
| Potassium source | Uptake of K42 by the plant, 24 h after application (% of activity applied) | Translocation of K42 from the treated leaf (% of activity taken up) |
|---|---|---|
| SOP (K2SO4) | 19.4 | 13.2 |
| MKP (KH2PO4) | 33.7 | 15.1 |
| Multi-K (KNO3) | 43.3 | 20.1 |
Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product
| N | P | K | Ca | Mg | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ---------------------------------------------------Kg / ton----------------------------------------- | |||||
| 2.5 | 0.35 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |