Cucurbits

Liquid solutions in cucurbits

 

A guide to applying nutrients with liquid fertilisers in cucurbits

Growth stage

Week

Product

Product

rate

Nutrient applied (kg/ha)

N

P

K

S

Ca

Water melons and melons, drip irrigation

Running

Week 3

EASY N

EASY PK®

Topfoliar® (several foliar

applications, 10 – 14 days apart)

30 L/ha

100 L/ha

3 – 4 /ha

12.7

1.0

 

12

 

24

 

 

 

Week 4

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

Flowering

Week 5

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

 

Week 6

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

Flowering – Set

Week 7

EASY Cal®

EASY KS®

80 L/ha

30 L/ha

10

 

 

9

 

7.5

14.5

 

Week 8

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

30 L/ha

10

 

 

9

 

7.5

14.5

Fruit fill

Week 9

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

50 L/ha

10

 

 

15

 

12.5

14.5

 

Week 10

EASY KS

50 L/ha

 

 

15

12.5

 

 

Week 11

EASY KS

30 L/ha

 

 

9

7.5

 

 

Week 12

EASY KS

30 L/ha

 

 

9

7.5

 

Total

 

 

 

81.8

12

90

52.5

43.5

Pumpkins, drip irrigated

Running

Week 3

EASY N

EASY PK

Topfoliar (several foliar

applications, 10 – 14 days apart)

30 L/ha

100 L/ha

3 – 4 L/ha

12.7

1.0

 

12

 

24

 

 

 

Week 4

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

1st Flower

Week 5 & 6

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

Flowering – Set

Week 7

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

30 L/ha

10

 

 

9

 

7.5

14.5

 

Week 8

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

50 L/ha

10

 

 

15

 

12.5

14.5

Fruit fill

Week 9 &

10

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

50 L/ha

10

 

 

15

 

12.5

14.5

 

Week 11

& 12

EASY KS

50 L/ha

 

 

9

7.5

 

Total

 

 

 

69.1

12

72

40

43.5

 

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Fertigation applications

EASY N, EASY KS, EASY PK and EASY Cal can be applied through the irrigation water, through fixed sprinklers, microjets or drip/trickle irrigation systems.

EASY N and EASY PK can be applied several weeks after emergence or transplanting. When plants start to run, regular applications are required up to flowering.

Don’t apply nitrogen during the peak of flowering.

Apply regular inputs of EASY Cal and EASY KS from post flowering to set and during fruit fill.

When the crop is nearing maturity, only apply EASY KS.

In microjet drip systems, inject EASY Liquids® fertilisers towards the end of the irrigation shift by irrigating for a number of hours, then inject EASY Liquids for 30-45 minutes, then flush the lines with water for another 45 minutes.

Use a similar fertigation schedule for fixed overhead sprinklers.

Make sure plenty of time is allowed for flushing the lines after the fertiliser injection to ensure the nutrients are washed off the crop canopy. Flush the lines for at least as much time as it took to inject the fertiliser.

Do not fertigate when rain is forecast as nutrients (particularly nitrate nitrogen) may be lost through leaching.

EASY Liquids should be injected on a regular basis during the growing season to ensure even growth.

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Foliar sprays

Topfoliar can be applied when plants start to run. Apply 300-400 ml/100L of water using low boom spray (150-200 L of water per hectare).

When foliar spraying Topfoliar:

  • Do not apply when the temperature exceeds 25°C or when the crop is under moisture stress.
  • Use a wetting agent at the recommended rate. This will help facilitate uptake.

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EASY Liquids fertiliser guides

The following EASY Liquids fertiliser guides only provide general recommendations:

  • Crop vigour, yield expectations and soil and leaf tissue tests should be used to refine the actual requirements of the crop.
  • Base fertiliser makes up 20-30% of nitrogen and potassium requirement. Majority of phosphorus requirement is applied prior to planting.
  • Additional nutrients may need to be considered in the program, such as zinc, boron, magnesium and molybdenum.
  • On sandy soils the above rates may need to be increased by 10-15%.
  • Product application rates are based on weekly applications. The applications may be split into smaller doses for daily application.
  • Check the compatibility of fertilisers before trying to apply two products in the same fertigation application. Refer to the Compatibility section for more information.

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Replacing nutrients removed by crop

 

Nutrients removed (kg) from 1 tonnes of crop

Crop

N

P

K

S

Ca

Mg

Watermelons

2.3

0.4

3.2

na

2.7

0.4

Pumpkins

1.4

0.2

0.9

n/a

0.2

0.1

Cucumbers

2.0

0.6

2.2

n/a

0.1

0.1

 

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Cucurbit growth cycle

Sowing to harvest


EASY Liquids fertilisers guide

Nutrient applied (kg/ha)

Growth stage

Week

Product

Product

rate

N

P

K

S

Ca

Zucchini and squash, drip irrigation

Running

Week 3

EASY N,

EASY PK,

Topfoliar (several foliar

applications, 10-14 days apart)

30 L/ha

100 L/ha

3 – 4 L/ha

12.7

1.0

12

24

 

 

 

Week 4

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

Flowering

Week 5

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

 

Week 6

EASY N

30 L/ha

12.7

 

 

 

 

Flowering – Set

Week 7

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

30 L/ha

10

 

15

12.5

14.5

 

Week 8

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

50 L/ha

10

 

15

12.5

14.5

Fruit fill

Week 9

EASY Cal

EASY KS

80 L/ha

50 L/ha

10

 

15

12.5

14.5

Total

 

 

 

81.8

12

69

37.5

43.5

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For further information, contact your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ Distributor or freecall 1800 009 832.

www.incitecpivot.com.au

This is a guide only, which we hope you find helpful as a general tool. While Incitec Pivot Fertilisers has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of this guide, it should not be relied on as a substitute for tailored professional advice and Incitec Pivot Fertilisers accepts no liability in connection with this guide. Talk to your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Distributor Agronomist about soil testing and arranging a specific fertiliser recommendation that best suits your needs.

® EASY N and EASY PK are registered trademarks of Incitec Pivot Limited.

Incitec Pivot Fertilisers is a business of Incitec Pivot Limited, ABN 42 004 080 264.

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