LIMA, M. S. B.; LIMA, Maria Socorro Bezerra.
Resumen:
A field experiment was carried out in an Alluvial Euptrophic soil during the
period of Dec. 1995 to March 1996 with the objective to study effect of application of
NPK via fertirrigation in muskmelon (Cucumis melo, L) cultivar Gold Mine in order to find
out a fertilizer dose which provides best fruit yields. The area of experiment belongs to
FINOBRASA AGROINDUSTRIAL located in Ipanguassu in the state of Rio Grande do
Norte, região of lower Açu. A completely randomised experimental design with split plots was
adopted to evaluate 8 treatments of NPK doses in 3 phases of crop growth and fruit
maturation. The treatments consisted of doses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium
(K) defined on the basis of fertilizer dose used on the farm (control) and other treatments were
obtained by differentiating individual doses which varied from 20% minus to 10% more of N, in
intervals of 10%, and from 10% less to 10% more for P and K. The statistical analysis of results
permitted to conclude that leveis of fertilizers used in experiment are high and superior than
crop necessities as per leaf analysis. As for fruit production, expressed as number of commercial
fruits (FC), highest number (213 fruits) and best yields (48,39 t/ha) were obtained for dose of
188 kg N/ha, 300 kg de P205/ha and 150 kg de K20 /ha, utilized on farm.
