PRODUÇÃO E QUALIDADE DE MELÃO CANTALOUPE CULTIVADO COM Á-GUA DE DIFERENES NÍVEIS DE SALINIDADE

Abstract

In recent years an increase of 15 to 20% occurred in market share melons like Cantaloupes group, which present more attractive organoleptic characteristics and higher commercial value. However it needs more care in production due its higher sensitivity to soil salinity. Effects of soil and water salinity are among the main limiting factors to melon yield and quality at Rio Grande do Norte Sate, Brazil. This work was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of different irrigation water salinity levels on yield and quality of cantaloupe hybrid 'Sedna'. Experimental design was a randomized complete blocks with four replications. Treatments consisted of five salt concentrations in irrigation water (0.54; 1.48; 2.02; 3.03 and 3.9 dS m-1). Yield and quality characteristics evaluated were: number of marketable fruits per plant, yield of marketable fruits, mean weight of fruits, soluble solids content (SS) and pulp firmness. An increase on irrigation water salinity level negatively influenced yield of melon hybrid 'Sedna'. Yield loss in response to salinity was due to decrease in number of fruits per plant. Mean values of soluble solids and pulp firmness were not influenced by irrigation water salinity.