Author(s):

JP Sajitha, RM Vijayakumar, C Kannan and S Senthil Murugan

Abstract: Watermelon (<em>Citrullus lanatus </em>(Thumb) is the only fruit vegetable that is consumed as fresh fruit. It has risen from its relative obscurity to the present status mainly because of its pleasant flavour, sweet taste and refreshing effect that is well utilized during hot summer months. Soil constitutes the habitat of vast majority of microscopic forms of life distributed throughout the soil. These micro organisms bring about the decomposition of plant and animal residues to inorganic compounds that are essential for the maintenance of soil fertility and enhanced nutrient uptake capacity.An investigation was carried out to study the efficacy of different levels of nutrients through fertigation on microbial population in watermelon rhizosphere soil. Among the different levels of treatments in two seasons, the highest microbial population was recorded in the treatment T₇ at 30^th, 45^th, 60^th and 75^th DAS respectively). The soil application of 100 per cent recommended dose of nutrients had lesser impact on the microbial populations.

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