Irrigation management of muskmelon with tensiometry

Márcio José De Santana,Guilherme De Almeida Bocate,Stefany Silva De Souza,Taynara Tuany Borges Valeriano,Murilo Augusto Sgobi

doi:10.18406/2316-1817v9n32017965

Abstract

The production and consumption of muskmelon have been increasing (MELO et al., 2014), thus, information on techniques for higher field productions are necessary. The experiment described in the present work was conducted in the IFTM, Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the muskmelon yield under different soil water tensions. A randomized block experimental design was used with five treatments (soil water tensions of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kPa) and four replications (plots of two rows of 14 plants). Two harvests were carried out and the fruit yield, stem diameter, number of fruits per plant and efficiency of water use were evaluated. Irrigation was performed with a drip irrigation system and managed with tensiometry. The cultivar Bonus n.2 was used with spacing of 1.0 x 0.6 m. The data of the variables were subjected to the F test and regression test. The treatments showed statistical differences in number of fruits per plant, fruit weight (fruit yield) and stem diameter. The highest fruit yield found was 1.36 kg fruit-1 and the highest water use efficiency was 4.08 g mm-1 with irrigation for a soil water tension of 10 kPa. The lowest fruit yield was found with irrigation for a soil water tension of 50 kPa.

Highlights

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus Naud.) is a species of the Cucurbitaceae family, whose fruits are netted and have round-oval shape
The soil from the experimental area was classified as a distroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol), whose physical characteristics were evaluated in the Laboratory of Soil Analysis of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG) - Uberaba (Table 1)
All variables evaluated were negatively affected by increasing soil water tension (Figures 2, 3 and 4)

Summary

Introduction

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus Naud.) is a species of the Cucurbitaceae family, whose fruits are netted and have round-oval shape. Reticulatus Naud.) is a species of the Cucurbitaceae family, whose fruits are netted and have round-oval shape. Commercial crops of this fruit was first implemented in Brazil in 1986, by the Cotia Agricultural Cooperative. This fruit has good commercial prices and can be grown in small areas with good profitability (RIZZO, 1999). The main varieties of commercially produced melon (C. melo) are the Irrigation management of muskmelon with tensiometry inodorus (odorless melons) and cantaloupensis and reticulates (aromatic melons). Fruits of the varieties cantaloupensis and reticulatus have netted, warty or scaly surface and pulp with characteristic aroma and orange, salmon or green coloration (MENEZES et al, 2000)

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