Fertigation management is done by the use of the uptake nutrients curves. However, the tracking of the soil solution nutrients concentration appears to be a promising technique. The objective of this work was to study the response of melon plants subjected to controlled concentrations of nitrogen and potassium in the soil solution. 13 treatments were adapted, disposed in fully randomized design with 4 replications. The treatments resulted from the management of controlled concentrations of nitrogen and potassium in the soil solution. The crop was drip irrigated and fertigation was carried out only when necessary. The length of the main stem, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, average leaf area and dry matter were evaluated, and analysis of variance and regression using the SAS were performed. At 30 days, the best concentrations of nitrogen and potassium were 336 and 84 mg L-1, respectively. At the end of the cycle, the best concentration of nitrogen in soil solution was of 336 mg L-1 and potassium ranged from 35 and 44 mg L-1.
Cucumis melo L.; ionic concentration; porous ceramic cup extractors; nitrogen; potassium
