Yield and quality of melon fruits depending on types and doses of biofertilizersMelon (Cucumis melo) has a high demand of mineral fertilization, suggesting the possibility of using alternative products such as biofertilizers. In this experiment we evaluated the yield and postharvest of the melon crop, cv. Mirage (Harper), subjected to different doses (and types) of biofertilizers. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 4×2+2 factorial arrangement, with treatments constituted of four doses of biofertilizers (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 L/week), two types of liquid biofertilizers (mixed aerobically fermented biofertilizer and pure anaerobically fermented bovine biofertilizer) with two additional treatments: control and recommended mineral fertilization. We analyzed yield, average fruit weight, fruit diameter, soluble solids, titratable acidity, firmness, pulp thickness and central cavity. The mixed biofertilizer was more efficient than pure bovine biofertilizer for most of the analyzed variables. The highest melon yield (32.62 t/ha) was achieved with a dose of 1.08 L/plant/week for mixed biofertilizer and 1.41 L/plant/ week for pure bovine biofertilizer (25.87 t/ha). Both the mixed biofertilizer and the pure bovine biofertilizer, at the rate (dose) of 2.0 L/plant/week were better than the control and better than mineral fertilization by the criterion of pulp thickness and central cavity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.