With the objective to use effluent of biodigestor in the hydroponic cultivation, an experiment was conducted in the Department of Rural Engineering Faculty of Agricultural and Veterenary Sciences of UNESP, campus of Jaboticabal where a melon crop (Cucumis melo L. cv. Bonus nº 2) was cultivated. The experimental design used was a randomized blocks, with 6 repetitions and the treatments studied were: 1) hydroponic cultivation in closed system type NFT (nutrient film technique) with use of organic-mineral nutrient solution (biofertilizer with mineral complementation); 2) hydroponic cultivation in closed system type NFT with use of 100% mineral solution; 3) hydroponic cultivation in open system, with substrate and organic-mineral nutrient solution and 4) hydroponic cultivation in an open system, with substrate and 100% mineral solution. The biofertilizer and the substrate were obtained from biodigestor effluent produced with cowdung. Plant development in treatment 1 was affected due to accumulation of solid particles in the root system. Treatment 2 provided to the plants rapid vegetative development and higher productivity. The fruits produced in treatment 2 presented higher weight, more elongated shape and higher total soluble solid content. A partial substitution of mineral fertilizers by biofertilizers showed viability of hydroponic cultivation of the melon plant in an open system with substrate.
hydroponics; Cucumis melo L; biofertilizer; substrate
