Effect of organic fulvic acid application on the growth and yield performance of four melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars toward sustainable agricultural production

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Plant Production, Northern Technical University, during the spring growing season of 2025. The study aimed to investigate the effects of organic fulvic acid application on the growth and yield performance of four melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars in order to promote sustainable agricultural production and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.

The experiment included two factors: the first was four melon cultivars—‘Polydor’, ‘Athena’, ‘Galia’, and the local cultivar ‘Malouki’; the second factor was two concentrations of fulvic acid (0 and 6 mL. L⁻¹). The treatments were applied twice: the first after the appearance of the fourth true leaf and the second after 15 days. The study was carried out in the field using the split Plot Design splinter cutting system by designing complete random sectors R.C.B.D with three duplicates, where the items were placed in the main plots main plots, and the secondary plots sup Plots included a random distribution of fulvic acid concentrations and after recording the data were statistically analyzed using the SAS statistical analysis program .  All results were statistically tested according to the Duncan polynomial Test at a probability level of 5 % . The results of the statistical analysis, the results of which are contained in the tables of the analysis of variation, indicate that the plants of the variety Galya are significantly superior in the characteristics of the quotient (diameter of the fruit, the number of fruits per plant, the average weight of the fruit, the quotient of one plant and the total yield) compared to the plants of other varieties .While the plants treated with fulvic acid showed a moral superiority in the qualities of the quantitative quotient, the moral effect varied depending on the concentration used, as the spraying treatment with Fulvic exceeded the concentration of (6 ml. L^-1 ) Morally in comparison with the comparative treatment. As for the best interference treatment between the studied factors in the characteristics of the quotient was obtained in the interference treatment between the variety Galea and Fulvic spraying at a concentration of (6 ml L^-1). The results suggest that organic fulvic acid may act as an environmentally friendly growth catalyst for sustainable melon production, which may reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and support environmentally sound agricultural practices.

The experiment included two factors: the first was four melon cultivars—‘Polydor’, ‘Athena’, ‘Galia’, and the local cultivar ‘Malouki’; the second factor was two concentrations of fulvic acid (0 and 6 mL. L⁻¹). The treatments were applied twice: the first after the appearance of the fourth true leaf and the second after 15 days. The study was carried out in the field using the split Plot Design splinter cutting system by designing complete random sectors R.C.B.D with three duplicates, where the items were placed in the main plots main plots, and the secondary plots sup Plots included a random distribution of fulvic acid concentrations and after recording the data were statistically analyzed using the SAS statistical analysis program .  All results were statistically tested according to the Duncan polynomial Test at a probability level of 5 % . The results of the statistical analysis, the results of which are contained in the tables of the analysis of variation, indicate that the plants of the variety Galya are significantly superior in the characteristics of the quotient (diameter of the fruit, the number of fruits per plant, the average weight of the fruit, the quotient of one plant and the total yield) compared to the plants of other varieties .While the plants treated with fulvic acid showed a moral superiority in the qualities of the quantitative quotient, the moral effect varied depending on the concentration used, as the spraying treatment with Fulvic exceeded the concentration of (6 ml. L^-1 ) Morally in comparison with the comparative treatment. As for the best interference treatment between the studied factors in the characteristics of the quotient was obtained in the interference treatment between the variety Galea and Fulvic spraying at a concentration of (6 ml. L^-1) . The results suggest that organic fulvic acid may act as an environmentally friendly growth catalyst for sustainable melon production, which may reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and support environmentally sound agricultural practices.