The melon crop represents an important contribution to the total Brazilian agricultural export. Carbon dioxide concentration was assumed to be 250 mumolCO2 mol-1 before industrial revolution, achieving 315 mumolCO2 mol-1 in 1958. Nowadays it is approximately 365 mumolCO2 mol-1, with a tendency of increasing. In this research the effect of carbon dioxide application through irrigation water on melon fruit productivity and chemical characteristics was evaluated. A trickle irrigation system was used. The carbon dioxide applications were daily and three times a week, in three different types of crop management: lateral protection, mulching and soil without protection. The carbon dioxide application through irrigation water did not alter the melon crop season, and it did not affect the fruit chemical characteristics, such as soluble solids content, total acidity and pH. The highest yield was obtained with carbon dioxide application through irrigation water.
Cucumis melo; photosynthesis; fruit quality
