Effect of different soil water tensions and potassium fertilization on the production and quality of netted melon (cucumis melo l.) in the Amazon area

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and qualitative behavior of netted melon in a protected environment subjected to different soil water tensions and potassium doses, applied via fertigation. The experimental design was randomized blocks (RBD) in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme with 20 treatments and three replicates, consisting of five percentage doses of potassium (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200%) and four soil water tensions (15, 30, 45 and 60 kPa). The variables analyzed were average yield (t ha-1), transverse and longitudinal diameter of fruits (mm), pulp thickness (mm), °Brix (%) and pH. Yield and fruit longitudinal diameter were decreased linearly with the increase in soil water tension. The best result for yield and fruit longitudinal diameter of 51.24 t ha-1 and 127.7 mm were achieved, respectively, when irrigation performed at 15 kPa tension. The lowest value was found at the maximum tension (60 kPa). Regarding potassium doses, a quadratic model fitted to the data, with maximum values of yield and longitudinal diameter at the K2O doses of 235.30 and 232.82 kg ha-1, respectively. The interaction of T x K led to higher values of °Brix under 247.68 and 371.52 kg ha-1 of K2O with tension of 24.67 kPa, with no difference between both. The best result of fruit transverse diameter was observed under combination of 371.52 kg ha-1 of K2O and 15 kPa tension. Irrigation at tension of 15 kPa and K2O dose of 247.68 kg ha-1 can be indicated for the study conditions