Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (10): 2066-2076.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240809

• Horticultural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of potassium fulvic acid on soil microecology, root morphology in root zone of melon and fruit quality

XIONG Tao1(), YAN Miao1, WU Ting1, MA Chao2, YANG Juntao1, HU Guozhi1,*()   

  1. 1. Hami Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
    2. Sinochem Agriculture (Xinjiang) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Manas Company, Manas 832200, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-09-18 Online:2025-10-25 Published:2025-11-13

Abstract:

The effects of different application rates of potassium fulvate acid on the physicochemical properties of soil, soil microorganisms, soil enzyme activity, root morphological characteristics, and fruit quality in the root zone of melon were investigated, to determine the optimal application rate of potassium fulvate acid and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific and rational use of potassium fulvate acid fertilizer in melon production. Using the melon variety Huangmengcui as the test material, five levels of potassium fulvate acid application (0, 37.5, 75.0, 112.5, 150.0 kg·hm-2, denoted as CK, KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4 respectively) were set on the basis of conventional fertilization, and topdressing was carried out during the seedling stage, vine extension stage, flowering stage, fruit expansion stage, and maturity stage. The results showed that compared with CK, the application of potassium fulvic acid significantly increased the content of organic matter and major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil, enhanced the cation exchange capacity, and reduced the soil pH value, further improving the physicochemical properties and water and fertilizer retention capacity of the soil; the application of potassium fulvic acid continuously improved the functional capacity of microbial communities, with the total number of culturable microorganisms, bacteria, and fungi in the soil showing the pattern KT3>KT4>KT2>KT1>CK, and the KT3 treatment showed the best enhancement effect on soil enzyme activity in the root zone; the root morphology results indicated that potassium fulvic acid promoted the growth and development of melon roots, with the KT3 treatment showing the best effect, increasing root length, root volume, root diameter, root surface area, and root tip number by 36.27%, 85.92%, 39.59%, 80.54%, 83.80% respectively compared with CK; topdressing with potassium fulvate acid could improve the fruit surface brightness value, soluble solids content, soluble sugar content, and vitamin C content of melon, effectively enhancing fruit quality and market ability. However, when the application rate of potassium fulvic acid reached 150.0 kg·hm-2, all indicators showed a decreasing trend. Therefore, based on comprehensive analysis, the most suitable application rate of potassium fulvic acid under the same soil conditions and cultivation practices in this experiment is 112.5 kg·hm-2.

Key words: potassium fulvic acid, melon, soil microecology, root development, fruit quality

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