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UDK: 631.847:633.875(575.42)
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PHOSPHORUS DOSES ON THE STORAGE AND
YIELD OF LATE-RIPENING MELON IN LIGHT GRAY SOILS
Isakov Yusuf Khoriddinovich
E-mail:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Technical Sciences,
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Uzbekistan-Finland Pedagogical Institute.
Abdumajidova Shahzoda Botir kizi
E-mail:
abdumajidovashahzoda638@gmail.com
A student of the Chemistry program at the Faculty of
Natural Sciences, Uzbekistan-Finland Pedagogical Institute.
Pardayev Ulug‘bek Xayrullo ugli
E-mail:
A student of the Chemistry program at the Faculty of
Natural Sciences, Uzbekistan-Finland Pedagogical Institute.
Khusanov Eldor Safariddinovich
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Technical Sciences,
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Uzbekistan-Finland Pedagogical Institute.
Annotation:
This article presents the results of agrochemical experiments conducted in the light
gray soils of the Samarkand region to determine the optimal dose of phosphorus fertilizers for
late-ripening melon varieties. The study aimed to assess the effect of varying phosphorus doses
(50, 75, 100, and 125 kg/ha of P₂O₅) on melon yield and post-harvest storage quality. Field trials
were organized in a randomized block design with three replications using the “Qora po‘choq”
variety. Alongside a fixed nitrogen (100 kg/ha) and potassium (50 kg/ha) background, phosphorus
levels were systematically varied. The results showed that increasing phosphorus doses
significantly improved both the yield and storage duration of melon fruits. The optimal dose was
found to be 100 kg/ha of P₂O₅, which ensured not only the highest yield but also maintained
firmness and sugar content during storage. The findings suggest that phosphorus nutrition plays a
crucial role in enhancing both agronomic performance and biochemical stability of melons,
thereby contributing to food security and export potential in arid regions.
Key words:
phosphorus fertilizer, late-ripening melon, light gray soils, storage quality, melon
yield, post-harvest physiology, agrochemical efficiency.
Introduction:
In recent years, the demand for high-quality and long-storing melon varieties has
significantly increased in Uzbekistan, particularly in regions such as Samarkand where light gray
soils offer favorable conditions for melon cultivation. Late-ripening melons play an essential role
in ensuring year-round availability of fresh produce due to their extended shelf life. However,
achieving optimal productivity and post-harvest quality depends largely on scientifically based
fertilization practices, especially phosphorus nutrition. Phosphorus is a key macronutrient that
supports root development, flowering, and fruit formation, as well as the biochemical properties
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that affect fruit storability. While nitrogen and potassium fertilizers have been widely studied, less
attention has been given to the specific role of phosphorus dosage in determining both yield and
storage parameters. Therefore, it is critical to establish optimal phosphorus levels that enhance
melon productivity without compromising storage quality. This study investigates the effect of
different phosphorus fertilizer doses (50–125 kg/ha of P₂O₅) applied to late-ripening melon
varieties under controlled nitrogen and potassium conditions in the light gray soils of the
Samarkand region. The goal is to determine the most efficient phosphorus dose for achieving high
yield and prolonged post-harvest shelf life in melons, thereby improving food supply
sustainability and market competitiveness.
Literature review
: Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the most widely cultivated horticultural
crops in arid and semi-arid regions due to its high nutritional value and consumer preference. In
Uzbekistan, particularly in the Samarkand region, late-ripening melon varieties are valued for
their long shelf life, making them suitable for both domestic consumption and export. Numerous
studies have confirmed that balanced fertilization plays a crucial role in achieving high yield and
post-harvest fruit quality. Phosphorus, as a vital macronutrient, is directly involved in energy
transfer, enzymatic reactions, and sugar metabolism, all of which influence the storability and
biochemical composition of melons (Turan et al., 2010; Marschner, 2012).
Buriev and Dosmuratova (2000) emphasized the importance of applying 15–20 t/ha of organic
fertilizer in combination with phosphorus and potassium before sowing to stimulate early
development in melons. Similarly, recent agrochemical research in Central Asia has demonstrated
that phosphorus application significantly improves root development and fruit set in cucurbits,
especially under conditions of low soil fertility (Karimov et al., 2018). However, excessive
phosphorus does not always translate to proportional yield increases and may affect fruit texture
and post-harvest respiration rates (Yildirim et al., 2021).
While nitrogen’s influence on melon growth is relatively well understood, fewer studies have
systematically explored phosphorus dose optimization with regard to both yield and storage
performance. This creates a research gap, particularly in the context of light gray soils where
phosphorus availability is often limited due to high pH and calcium carbonate content. Given
these conditions, understanding phosphorus dynamics in such soils is essential for maximizing
fertilizer efficiency and improving melon quality. This study contributes to the growing div of
agrochemical literature by providing field-based evidence from Samarkand region on how
different phosphorus doses influence both productivity and post-harvest quality of late-ripening
melon varieties.
Methodology:
The field experiment was conducted during the growing season on light gray soils
of the Samarkand region, characterized by medium loamy texture, neutral to slightly alkaline pH
(7.6–8.2), and moderate phosphorus deficiency. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different
phosphorus doses on the yield and storage characteristics of late-ripening melon. The experiment
followed a randomized complete block design with four phosphorus treatments and three
replications.
The treatments included four phosphorus fertilizer doses as P₂O₅: 50 kg/ha (P1), 75 kg/ha (P2),
100 kg/ha (P3), and 125 kg/ha (P4). Each treatment was applied against a fixed background of
100 kg/ha of nitrogen (N) and 50 kg/ha of potassium (K₂O). Nitrogen was applied in the form of
ammonium nitrate (34%), phosphorus as superphosphate (19% P₂O₅), and potassium as potassium
chloride (50% K₂O). Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were fully incorporated during pre-
sowing soil preparation, while nitrogen was split into two applications: 50% before planting and
50% at the 4–5 leaf stage.
The tested variety was “Qora po‘choq” a widely cultivated late-ripening melon with good storage
potential. Melon seeds were sown manually on May 20 at a row spacing of 2.7 meters and intra-
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row spacing of 60 cm. Each plot measured 5.4 m × 21 m (113.4 m²), with a harvestable area of 54
m². Standard agronomic practices, including irrigation at 65–70% field capacity, hoeing, thinning,
and pest management, were uniformly applied across all treatments.
Yield data were recorded at harvest on October 15 by measuring total fruit weight per plot and
converted to quintals per hectare (s/ha). Storage studies were conducted under ambient conditions
over 60 days, during which fruit firmness, sugar content (Brix %), and spoilage percentage were
evaluated at 15-day intervals. The collected data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, and
treatment means were compared using the LSD test at a 5% significance level.
Results:
The conducted field experiment revealed that different phosphorus doses significantly
influenced not only the yield of late-ripening melon but also post-harvest firmness, sugar
accumulation, and biochemical quality parameters during storage. The highest agronomic
efficiency was observed at 100 kg/ha of P₂O₅, beyond which the positive effects declined.
Table 1. Influence of phosphorus doses on yield indicators of late-ripening melon:
№
Phosphorus dose (P₂O₅,
kg/ha)
Average
fruit
yield (s/ha)
Average
fruit
weight (g)
Marketable
yield
(%
of
total)
1
50 (P1)
256
1,480
85.4
2
75 (P2)
288
1,560
89.7
3
100 (P3)
307
1,620
93.2
4
125 (P4)
298
1,610
91.5
The highest fruit yield and marketable percentage were recorded at 100 kg/ha phosphorus (P3).
An increase to 125 kg/ha did not improve productivity further.
Table 2. Effect of phosphorus application on post-harvest storage characteristics:
№
Phosphorus dose
Fruit firmness
after 60 days
(%)
Spoilage
rate
(%)
Shelf life (days
until
20%
spoilage)
1
P1 – 50
61.2
18.7
42
2
P2 – 75
68.4
14.3
49
3
P3 – 100
72.1
11.5
56
4
P4 – 125
69.0
13.8
52
Fruits from P3 plots maintained firmness and storability the longest. Although P4 showed similar
results, its marginal benefit was lower.
Table 3. Influence of phosphorus doses on biochemical quality parameters:
№
Phosphorus dose
Soluble
solids
(Brix %)
Ascorbic
acid
(mg/100g)
Nitrate content
(mg/kg)
1
P1 – 50
8.9
15.2
76
2
P2 – 75
9.6
16.4
70
3
P3 – 100
10.2
17.1
67
4
P4 – 125
10.3
17.3
66
Sugar content (Brix) and vitamin C levels increased with phosphorus dosage, peaking at 100–125
kg/ha. Nitrate content remained within acceptable limits and declined slightly with higher
phosphorus levels.
The optimal phosphorus dose for maximizing both yield and storage quality was
100 kg/ha of
P₂O₅
. Excessive phosphorus (125 kg/ha) did not significantly increase quality indicators and
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showed signs of reduced efficiency. Phosphorus positively affected fruit biochemical composition,
suggesting its role in improving both agronomic and nutritional performance.
Discussion:
The findings of this study clearly demonstrate that phosphorus fertilization plays a
crucial role in the yield formation and post-harvest stability of late-ripening melon grown in the
light gray soils of the Samarkand region. The increase in fruit yield from 256 s/ha at 50 kg/ha of
P₂O₅ to 307 s/ha at 100 kg/ha confirms the importance of phosphorus in enhancing melon
productivity under phosphorus-deficient soil conditions. This trend aligns with previous
agrochemical research which emphasized phosphorus’s role in stimulating root development,
flower formation, and carbohydrate metabolism (Turan et al., 2010; Marschner, 2012).
From an agronomic perspective, the yield response curve observed in this study follows the
principle of diminishing returns, where increasing phosphorus doses beyond the optimal (100
kg/ha) resulted in slight yield reduction (to 298 s/ha at 125 kg/ha). This can be attributed to a
nutrient imbalance or potential antagonism in nutrient uptake when phosphorus exceeds plant
requirements. These results are consistent with Yildirim et al. (2021), who found that excessive
phosphorus may disrupt nitrogen uptake and reduce metabolic efficiency in cucurbits.
Post-harvest analyses revealed that optimal phosphorus application not only enhanced yield but
also prolonged the shelf life of fruits, as evidenced by increased firmness (72.1%) and reduced
spoilage (11.5%) at 100 kg/ha of P₂O₅. These improvements are associated with better cell wall
integrity and reduced respiration rates, which are influenced by adequate phosphorus nutrition
during the fruit development phase. This reinforces the agrochemical view that phosphorus
contributes to post-harvest physiology and biochemical stability in fruits.
Furthermore, soluble solids (Brix%) and ascorbic acid content were positively influenced by
phosphorus fertilization, supporting the hypothesis that phosphorus plays a biochemical role in
enhancing fruit quality. A slight increase in total soluble solids from 8.9% (P1) to 10.2–10.3%
(P3–P4) suggests improved sugar metabolism, while the declining nitrate levels reflect more
balanced nitrogen utilization, which is beneficial for consumer health and food safety.
This study demonstrates that 100 kg/ha of phosphorus (P₂O₅) under balanced N and K conditions
provides an optimal strategy for maximizing both yield and post-harvest quality of melons in light
gray soils. These results have practical implications for melon producers in phosphorus-deficient
regions such as Samarkand, where efficient nutrient management can improve both productivity
and storage longevity.
Conclusion:
The results of this study confirm that phosphorus fertilization has a significant
impact on both the yield and storage quality of late-ripening melon cultivated in light gray soils of
the Samarkand region. Among the tested phosphorus doses, the application of 100 kg/ha of P₂O₅
produced the highest yield (307 s/ha), the longest shelf life (56 days until 20% spoilage), and
superior biochemical parameters such as fruit firmness and sugar content. While increasing the
phosphorus dose to 125 kg/ha led to a slight increase in soluble solids, it did not enhance yield or
storage performance and indicated reduced fertilizer efficiency.
Optimal phosphorus nutrition contributed to better root development, efficient nutrient uptake,
and post-harvest biochemical stability, all of which are critical for ensuring both productivity and
market value. These findings suggest that for melon cultivation in phosphorus-deficient light gray
soils, 100 kg/ha of P₂O₅ under balanced N and K application is the most effective rate for
achieving high agronomic performance and prolonging fruit storability.
Therefore, adopting this fertilization strategy can support melon producers in maximizing
economic return, reducing post-harvest losses, and meeting consumer demands for high-quality
melons throughout the marketing season.
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INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR
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