Melon (Cucumis melo L.): interrelations between fertilization, mineral nutrition and production

Abstract

The quantity and proportionality of nutrients absorbed by plants are functions of inherent characteristics of plant, as well as the external factors that influence the process. In a species, the ability to withdraw the nutrients in the soil and the quantities required vary not only to grow, but also with the degree of competition exists. Variations in environmental factors as temperature and soil moisture can affect the content of nutrients in the leaves considerably. These factors influence both the availability of nutrients such as the absorption by the roots and thus the growth of shoots. Moreover, the accumulation and distribution of nutrients in the plant depend on its stage of development. Was evaluated the dry mass production, the levels of leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur in the cultivation of melons in each treatment. The experimental design was a randomized blocks, with five repetitions and three treatments, trat 1: NPK 50-25-25; trat. 2: NPK 10-28-20 and trat. 3: NPK 3-12-6. It was used to cultivate hybrid Sunrise, sown in flooting and then transplanted to the leiras holes in a greenhouse, which had been held previously and correction fertilization based on soil analysis. The drip irrigation was performed, and 25 days after transplanting was done tutoramento the plant. The harvest was done gradually, according to the maturation of fruits, what happened to approximately 60 days after transplanting. The average observed for production of dry mass of the shoot, were higher in treatments 2 (21.87 g plant^-1). For the leaf levels of N, P, K, Ca and Mg of the melon, there was no significant effect of the treatments. Treatment 3 with NPK BIOATIVO (3-12-6) influenced significantly (P <0.05) the levels of S and Mn, showing the greatest levels leaf, with 3.50 g kg ^-1 and 255.65 mg kg ^-1 respectively .Os treatments did not influence significantly in the leaf levels of N, P, K, Ca and Mg of melon, just as the contents of S.