Yield and Characteristics of Melon Fruits under Different Fertilization Management and Soil Cover

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the 'Canary' and 'Hale's Best Jumbo' melon yield and fruit characteristics as a function of fertilization management and soil cover with mulch.
 Study Design: The design was a randomized complete block design in a 2x3x2 factorial scheme, with three replications and seven plants per plot.
 Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted from June to September 2015, at the Center of Agrarian and Biodiversity Sciences of the Federal University of Cariri, located in the city of Crato, Cariri region, Brazil.
 Methodology: Two varieties of melon ('Canary' and 'Hale's Best Jumbo') were studied under three fertilization managements (mineral fertilization via soil, mineral fertilization via soil + organic fertilization and mineral fertilization via soil + foliar fertilization) with the presence or absence of soil cover with polyethylene mulch.
 Results: The use of mineral + organic fertilization and mineral + leaf fertilization promoted an increase in fruit mass and yield of approximately 3.93 t ha-1 (25.50%) and 4.64 t ha-1 (30%), respectively. Both melon cultivars presented the best responses grown on plastic mulch, with yield increases of 79.66% and 26.16% for 'Canary' and 'Hale's Best Jumbo', respectively. Moreover, the 'Hale's Best Jumbo' cultivar presented higher soluble solids contents than the 'Canary' melon, with an increase of 11.26% (0.76 ° Brix).
 Conclusion: The use of soil cover and additional fertilization (organic or foliar) in the cultivation of melon provides an increase in size, mass and productivity, while soil cover increases the soluble solids content in fruits.

Initial development of watermelon in fuction of substrates and irrigation with saline water

“…The superiority of the CS in relation to the other substrates can be justified by its pH that is close to what is considered adequate (5.8), and the other substrates were in conditions of alkalinity (pH> 8.0), therefore it could have a reduction in the availability of phosphorus to the plants due to the formation of insoluble calcium phosphate and of micronutrients such as Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn [18]. Moreover, the use of nutrients that compound the manure, both bovine and sheep, occurs through the mineralization process that demands a certain period of time [19], in this way, the application of these sources close to the date of sowing, allowed the full use of its nutritional potential.…”

“…Moreover, Ramos et al (2012) [3] evaluating the production of watermelon seedlings in different substrates, observed the necessity for nutritional supplementation through a nutrient solution in the alternative substrates, which can be a disadvantage due to the increase on the final cost. However, the superiority of the commercial substrate in relation to the other substrates can be justified by the ready nutritional availability for root absorption and consequently, the development of the seedlings, being necessary for the other substrates the mineralization process of organic compounds for plant absorption [19].…”

Application methods of biostimulants affect the production and postharvest conservation of yellow melon

“…In Brazil, yellow melon is the group with the highest participation in the production and export of melons because of its highest postharvest conservation (Nunes et al 2011). Fruits of these group are available for consumption when they reach a soluble solids content higher than 9° Brix (Lobo et al 2019) and have a shelf life greater than 30 days when stored at 10 °C (Tomaz et al 2009). In order to extend the shelf life of the fruits to reach distant markets (Paiva et al 2020), it is important to study their response to the adoption of new technologies during plant growth and development.…”