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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (32): 73-77.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2020-0322

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Effects of Cow Dung Substrate on the Growth and Photosynthesis of Muskmelon Seedlings

Mao Ke1(), Tian Qiaoling2, Yu Fengqiu3, Zhang Jiaxin1, Zhou Luyao1, Fan Yuting1, Wang Jiqing1()   

  1. 1College of Horticulture Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002
    2Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Puyang County, Henan Province, Puyang Henan 457100
    3Seed Technology Service Station of Zhenping, Nanyang Henan 474200
  • Received:2020-08-03 Revised:2020-11-07 Online:2021-11-15 Published:2022-01-07
  • Contact: Wang Jiqing E-mail:1377240827@qq.com;wjq16@sina.com

Abstract:

Peat is recognized as an excellent substrate for horticultural seedling and cultivation all over the world, while excessive exploitation of peat will damage the ecological environment. It has practical significance to study the materials that can replace the peat substrate. This experiment took fermented cow dung as the main material, and used different volume ratios of cow dung, vermiculite and perlite to prepare seedling substrates, a commercial peat substrate was used as the control to carry out a melon seedling experiment. The authors measured the physical properties, emergence rate, growth index and photosynthetic index of different treatment substrates, and studied the effects of different ratios of cow dung substrates on melon seed germination and seedling growth. The results showed that the emergence rate of muskmelon and the physical properties of treatment I were similar to those of the control peat substrate. At the same time, the seedling root length and underground fresh weight of treatment I increased by 19.3% and 60.6% respectively compared with the peat substrate, the intercellular CO2 concentration of seedling leaves was reduced by 12.8% compared with the control, and the net photosynthetic rate was 14.1% higher than that of the control. Therefore, the substrate prepared by fermented cow dung: vermiculite: perlite volume ratio of 6:3:1 with the adding of appropriate amount of chicken manure and citric acid could replace the peat substrate for melon seedlings.

Key words: cow dung, peat substrate, melon, grow seedlings, chicken manure, citric acid

CLC Number: