Use of Organic Compounds in Melon Cropping

Abstract

An experiment was set up in Bebedouro Experimental Station in Petrolina-PE, Brazil, to evaluate the effect of different organic compounds and bio-fertilizers through fertigation on melon cropping. The treatments consisted of five types of compounds formed by a combination of Napier grass, coconut bagasse, castor bean cake, goat manure, potassium super-phosphate and thermo-phosphate. The total and commercial fruit yields, fruit chemical characteristics (soluble solids content, total acidity and pH) and fruit physic characteristics (mass loss and pulp firmness) were assessed. The highest commercial fruit yields of 27.13, 26.58 and 26.45 t ha-1 were obtained, respectively, by 77% coconut bagasse + 20% goat manure + 3% thermo-phosphate, by 50% Napier grass + 40% goat manure + 10% castor bean cake and by 50% Napier grass + 40% goat manure + 10% castor bean cake, at 10 L m-1 combinations. There were no significant effects of the organic compounds on the melon fruit chemical characteristics (pH, TTA), but the organic management caused mass loss and reduced pulp firmness during the storage time, compared to the conventional fertilized crop.