Production and quality of melon hybrid Mandacaru irrigated with different levels of salinity

Abstract

Among the problems faced by the melon crop in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, the effect of water and soil salinity is considered one of the key factors to limit fruit production and quality. The aim of this work was to study the effects of using irrigation waters with different salinity levels on yield and quality of fruits of the yellow melon hybrid Mandacaru. A randomized complete block design was used with five treatments (irrigation water salt concentrations: 0.54, 1.48, 2.02, 3.03, 3.9 dS m-1) and four replications. The effects of these concentrations were evaluated through, number of marketable fruits per plant, marketable and total fruit yield, average marketable fruit mass, soluble solids content and pulp firmness. Increment in water salinity level negatively influenced crop yield. The 3.9 dS m-1 salinity level caused yield losses of 20.31%, due to the reduction of fruit number per plant. The highest soluble solid content and the highest pulp firmness values were estimated to occur at salinity levels 2.09 and 3.5 dS m-1, respectively.