Production of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) under controlled deficit irrigation in a semi-arid climate

Controlled deficit irrigation (CDI) was studied in a muskmelon crop cultivated in semi-arid climate. Nine drip irrigation treatments were differentiated by the level to which the water requirements were met. The effect of deficit irrigation at three crop stages (blooming, setting and ripening) was studied. Fruit yield and its components were highly influenced by the total volume of irrigation water. The treatments with a deficit during the blooming stage had the lowest production. The deficit imposed during blooming stage affected mainly to quantity (yield), at setting stage both quantity and quality, and the deficit imposed at ripening stage affected principally to quality (sugar content). The mathematical function that better fits the relation between production and water volume received is a second-degree polynomial. Adequate production rates may be reached with no more of 400 mm, provided that the fruit setting stage is not subjected to water stress, particularly in its early stages. Under this conditions, the fruit obtained would be fairly rich in sugar content. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.