Production and post-harvest quality of mini-watermelon crop under irrigation management strategies and potassium fertilization

Abstract

The occurrence of water sources with a high concentration of salts stands out as a limiting factor for production in Northeast Brazil. Thus, the search for strategies that minimize the effect of salt stress on crops is of fundamental importance. In this context, this study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the production and post-harvest quality of Sugar Baby mini-watermelon fruits under different irrigation management strategies with saline water and potassium fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a randomized block design, in an 8 × 3 factorial scheme, with three replicates, corresponding to eight saline water irrigation management strategies (No stress throughout the crop cycle; irrigation with saline water in the vegetative, vegetative/flowering, flowering, flowering/fruiting, fruiting, fruiting/maturation and fruit maturation stages) and three doses of potassium (50, 100 and 150% of the recommended dose). The dose of 100% corresponded to 150 mg K2O kg-1 of soil. Water with low and with high electrical conductivity (0.8 and 4.0 dS m-1, respectively) was used. Irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the flowering and fruit maturation stages is a promising strategy for the cultivation of mini-watermelon, as it does not compromise production. Fertilization with 50% of K2O recommendation can be used in the cultivation of mini-watermelon without losses in yield. Mini-watermelon plants fertilized with 150% of K2O recommendation and irrigated with water of high salt concentration continuously in the vegetative/flowering and fruiting stages reduced the contents of soluble solids and ascorbic acid in the fruits.

The impact of saline and water stress on the agronomic performance of beet crops

“…2016; Silva et al, 2022). However, these effects depend on the crop's development stage, duration of exposure to stress, type of salt present in the environment, and environmental, cultural, and irrigation management conditions (Lima et al, 2021;Silva et al, 2022;Wu et al, 2022). Therefore, strategies to mitigate salt stress and improve water use efficiency are essential.…”

Auxina: ação do hormônio indutor de crescimento em soja

“…It was expected that the application of K2O, especially the highest dose, would result in watermelon fruit quality, since this element is strongly associated with fruit quality (SILVA et al, 2022). Lima Neto et al (2010) emphasize that environmental factors, in addition to genetic factors and the degree of maturation at the time of harvest, considerably influence the quality of watermelon fruits.…”

NPK Accumulation, Physiology, and Production of Sour Passion Fruit under Salt Stress Irrigated with Brackish Water in the Phenological Stages and K Fertilization

“…Lima et al [ 17 ] found that salt stress in the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages is a promising strategy for sesame cultivation in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Silva et al [ 18 ], in a study evaluating the production and post-harvest quality of mini-watermelon fruits, saline water irrigation management strategies, and potassium fertilization, concluded that irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m −1 in the flowering and fruit maturation stages is a promising strategy for cultivation, since it does not compromise the production, and fertilization with 50% of the K 2 O recommendation can be used in the cultivation of mini-watermelon without losses in production.…”