Melão rendilhado em ambiente protegido submetido à doses de nitrogênio e potássio em Rondonópolis-MT

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth, yield, quality and water use efficiency of muskmelon under the effects of nitrogen and potassium. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Mato Grosso / University Campus Rondonópolis from April to July 2012. The soil used was from the topsoil (0-20 cm) of an Oxisol collected in an area of native vegetation. The experimental design was randomized blocks. Each plot was represented by a plastic pot with 15 dm3 of soil. Treatments consisted of five levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg dm-3) and five doses of potassium (0, 80, 160, 240 and 320 mg dm-3) in 5x5 factorial design, resulting in 25 treatments with 4 replicates, totaling 100 plots. Quantitative variables were: stem diameter, number of leaves, SPAD index, leaf area, shoot dry weight. The volume of water consumed was also evaluating addition of qualitative variables: plant production, longitudinal and transverse circumference of the fruit, fruit shape, flesh thickness, titratable acidity, soluble solids and total maturation index. The of water use efficiency was also calculated. For treatments statistical program was used SISVAR with analysis of variance and regression to 5% probability. In analyzing the results it was found that the growth and development of the plant of melon interaction doses of 320 mg dm-3 of potassium and 160 mg dm-3 of nitrogen, provided the best combination of doses results and provided the highest production fresh fruit for each liter of water used was 120N 160K and 160N 160K.