Fruit yield and quality of melon cultivated in greenhouse with carbon dioxide and potassium applications through irrigation water - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v27i4.1697

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the effect of different doses of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and potassium (K₂O), applied through drip irrigation, at the yield and quality of cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo L.), hybrid Bônus II, cultivated in greenhouse. 19-day seedlings were transplanted to beds. They were spaced out 1.1 m x 0.3 m apart from each other and vertically directed up to 2.0 m of height. The treatments resulted from combinations of four K₂O doses and four CO₂ doses applied during the crop. K₂O irrigation and application were carried out during four days. CO₂ irrigation and application were carried out during two days. 45 CO₂ irrigation, 33 CO₂ applications and 19 K₂O applications were totalized. Results showed that (a) based on a quadratic relation, the number of melon marketable fruits had a significant increase when CO₂ and K₂O doses were also increased; (b) there was no significant effect of CO₂ on the average fruit weight. However, there was a significant quadratic effect for K₂O; (c) based on a quadratic relation, when there was an increase of CO₂ and K₂O doses, the total and commercial melon yield also increased; (d) CO₂ and K₂O application through irrigation increased the water efficiency usage; (e) there was significant effect of CO₂ on the total acidity, on the soluble solids content and on the flesh pH. However, there was no effect of K₂O; and (f) K₂O application affected significantly the melon flesh thickness and the fruits transversal and longitudinal diameters. CO₂ application affected the flesh thickness and firmness.