ABSTRACT
With the objective to analyse the growth and yield of Orange Flesh melons under different levels of water salinity and nitrogen, an experiment was conducted at Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (5o03’37” S and 37o23’50” W Gr), Mossoró-RN. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a split plot design with four replications. The treatments consisted of five salinity levels of irrigation water and three nitrogen levels. The growth of melon was analysed at 23, 31, 41, 50, and 64 days after transplanting (DAT), through leaf area (AF), leaf dry mass (MSF), the stem (MSC) and fruits (MSFR), number of leaves (NF) and total dry mass (MST). The production of melon was analysed by average weight of commercial fruits (PMC), the total weight of fruits (PMT), commercial production (PRC) and total production (PRT). There was no significant effect on MSC, MSFR and NF. After 31, 41, 50 and 64 DAT there were significant differences of salinity levels for AF, MSF and MST variables. Significant effects were observed on the PMC, PMT, PRT and PRC. The PRT and PRC had reduction of 4.241 and 3.927 Mg ha-1 with per unit increase in electrical conductivity of irrigation water, respectively. The growth and yield of Orange Flesh melon were not affected by nitrogen levels.
Key words:
Cucumis melo L.; saline water; nitrogen fertigation