The effect of planting media and time of application of nutrients on melon (cucumis melo l.) Using drip irrigation hydroponics

Abstract

Cultivation of melon plants began to be developed hydroponically. A good planting media for hydroponics is porous and able to retain moisture, and serves to absorb nutrient solutions. The planting media that are widely used are husk charcoal, compost, and cocopeat. This study aims to determine the effect of planting media and time of application of nutrients on melon using drip irrigation hydroponics. This research method uses two independent variables, namely the time of application of nutrients (T) and the planting media (M). The treatment time of application of nutrients were one day (T1) and two days (T2). While the treatment of planting media was husk charcoal (M1), husk charcoal and compost with a ratio of 1:1 (M2), as well as husk charcoal and cocopeat with a ratio of 1:1 (M3). The results of measurements of plant height, number of leaves, number of segments, and fruit weight were compared to determine differences using two-way ANOVA with a significance level of 5%. The results showed that the time of application of nutrients (T) and the planting media (M) affected plant height, number of leaves, number of segments, and weight of melon fruit. T1 had a better effect on melon plants when compared to T2, and M3 had a better effect on melon plants when compared to M1 and M2.