Foliar nutrition of muskmelon: I. Application to seedlings ‐ greenhouse experiments∗

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Abstract
In three greenhouse trials it was found that foliar fertilization of NPK to muskmelon and other curbubits, applied at the 2‐leaf stage, can enhance the vegetative growth of leaves and stems. Generally, the effect of foliar nutrition increased as the fertility level of the root zone solution decreased. When CaCl2 was applied to the foliage 2.5–72 h prior to NPK application, the results were inconsistent. In several cases the foliar application of CaCl2 augmented the effect of the NPK spray. However, in no case did CaCl2 by itself increase vegetative growth. In one experiment, CaCl2 in conjunction with NPK increased new leaf dry weight by 47%, even though the potting mixture had been adequately supplied with nutrients.