Crescimento, produção e qualidade pós-colheita de variedades de melancia em função da salinidade do solo.

Abstract

Watermelon cultivation in the northeastern semi-arid region stands out as an alternative for employment and income generation, especially in family agriculture. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the emergence, growth and post-harvest quality of watermelon varieties as a function of soil salinity. The experiment was conducted from July to September 2017, Federal University of Campina Grande-UFCG Pombal, PB. at the Center for Food Science and Technology – CCTA. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments were related to five levels of soil salinity-CEs of 0.3; 1,3; 2,3; 3.3 and 4.3 dS m-1 and four varieties of watermelon: Faifax, Congo, Charleston gray and Crimison sweet. Each experimental unit was composed of a vessel with 24 kg of sieved soil of medium texture, in which was added 120 g of tanned bovine manure, had a drainage system and was composed of gravel and screen. A pet bottle was placed in each pot to collect the drainage water, where it was returned to the respective vessels due to be part of the treatments. The interaction between the salinity of the soil and the varieties of melancholy did not significantly interfere on the studied variables, with the exception of the Hue grade. The increase of soil salinity from 0.3 dS m-1 linearly inhibits the main branch length and the number of leaves of melancholy at 20 days after sowing, as well as the firmness of the pulp. The maximum production of fresh mass of watermelon fruits occurred when the plants were submitted to soil salinity of 1.3 dS m-1. The Crimison sweet variety had a higher soluble solids content than the other varieties, showing good adaptation to the conditions under which was cultivated.