Articles
FERTIGATION OF A MELON CROP GROWN IN BLACK SEDGE PEAT-BASED SOILLESS MEDIA UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS
Article number
458_48
Pages
369 – 376
Language
Abstract
Fertigation of melon crop cv. “Galia” grown in two soilless media based on black sedge peat was studied by evaluating fruit yield and nutrient concentration in both leaves and leaf petiole sap.
Growing media composed of pure black sedge peat or a mixture of black sedge peat and light Sphagnum peat (1.5/1.0, V/V), showed limited available water-holding capacity, good aeration and moderate electrical conductivity.
The experiment conducted in plastic growing bags required higher irrigation frequency for pure sedge peat in comparison with the mixture of sedge and Sphagnum peats, in order to balance the lower initial water-holding capacity.
Melon fruit yield in pure black sedge peat was significantly greater than in the peat mixture.
An average drainage of around 30% was maintained during the whole growing period in order to keep the electrical conductivity of the drainage solution between 4.0 and 4.5 mS/cm.
Neither of the two growing media differed significantly in either total macroelement concentration in leaves or soluble nutrients in sap, during fruit-setting and harvesting periods.
Nevertheless, nitrate concentration in sap in pure black sedge peat was much higher than in sedge and Sphagnum peat mixture at fruit-setting.
Growing media composed of pure black sedge peat or a mixture of black sedge peat and light Sphagnum peat (1.5/1.0, V/V), showed limited available water-holding capacity, good aeration and moderate electrical conductivity.
The experiment conducted in plastic growing bags required higher irrigation frequency for pure sedge peat in comparison with the mixture of sedge and Sphagnum peats, in order to balance the lower initial water-holding capacity.
Melon fruit yield in pure black sedge peat was significantly greater than in the peat mixture.
An average drainage of around 30% was maintained during the whole growing period in order to keep the electrical conductivity of the drainage solution between 4.0 and 4.5 mS/cm.
Neither of the two growing media differed significantly in either total macroelement concentration in leaves or soluble nutrients in sap, during fruit-setting and harvesting periods.
Nevertheless, nitrate concentration in sap in pure black sedge peat was much higher than in sedge and Sphagnum peat mixture at fruit-setting.
Authors
M.L. Segura, C. Cadahia, M. Abad, A. López
Keywords
Cucumis melo, fruit yield, growing media characteristics, irrigation management, plant nutrition, substrate culture
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