Growth of orange flesh melon influenced by tillage system and bed planting

Abstract

Crop monitoring is carried out in modern fruit production for identifying growth changes influencing fruit yield and quality. A field trial in a factorial scheme with four replications was developed in a Quartzipsamments soil with the objective of evaluating the influence of tillage on growth of Orange Flesh melon. Factors evaluated were two tillage methods (entire area or strip tillage) both with or without beds. The following characteristics were evaluated: leaf number (NF), leaf area (AF) and dry matter of shoots (MSPA). Considering the conditions in which the trial was carried out, treatments influenced melon growth. Effect was higher on TCA_max than on the time for obtaining TCA_max (T.TCA_max). A positive correlation was observed between fruit firmness and T.TCA_max NF, T.P_50% NF, T.P_50% AF, T.TCA_max AF, P_max MSPA, T.P_50% MSPA, T.TCA_max MSPA, and a negative correlation with α parameter values for NF, AF and MSPA. In respect of total soluble solids, a negative correlation was observed with P_max of NF, AF and MSPA.