Nutrient solution salinity effect of greenhouse melon (Cucumis melon L. cv. Néctar)

Abstract

In Mossoró-RN, which is part of the semi-arid region of Brazil, a large part of the country’s melon production is concentrated, whose great potential is currently limited by water quality due to salt concentration. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the use of saline nutritive solutions in the irrigation of greenhouse melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Néctar) culture in coconut fiber. The experiment was carried out using a randomized block design with a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement, with four replications, where the treatments consisted of nutritivesolutions with five salinity levels (1.25 - control, 1.43, 1.86; 2.96 and 4.86 dS m-1) and for two different times to evaluate fruit quality parameters (at harvest and after 12 days of storage). Increasing the salinity in the nutrient solution reduces fruits’ mean weight, while total yield is only reduced with EC above 3.5 dS m-1. Fruit length anddiameter and peel and pulp thickness, SS and pH, decrease when submitted to nutrient solution with EC above 3.8 dS m-1. The peel and pulp thickness, pulp internal cavity, firmness, SS, pH, TA and fruit SS/TA ratio were influenced by the storage period.