PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION ON MELON: REFLEXES ON FRUITS PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

The culture of melon (Cucumis melo L.) has a great economic and social expression for the Northeast region of Brazil. Although its importance in the Brazilian agriculture, and the low levels of phosphorus (P) on tropical soils, there are reduced number of researches regarding P fertilization for this culture, even though is frequently mentioned that this nutrient would have preponderant rules on the development, growth and quality of the fruits. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of P doses on the production and quality of yellow cantaloupes, hybrid Goldex F1, growing under Teresina-PI conditions. The experiment was composed by 5 P doses (0, 120, 240, 360 and 480 kg ha(-1) of P2O5), carried out in four randomized blocks design. The fruits were harvested at 75 days after planting, and evaluated the total production; production of commercial fruits; mass and number of fruits per plant; length and diameter of fruits; pulp thickness, soluble solids, acidity and maturation index. The results indicated that the total and commercial production, mass and number of fruits as well as acidity increased with P doses, reaching the maximum values at 278 kg ha(-)1 P2O5. Doses above 278 kg ha(-1) P2O5 harmed the productivity. The fruits length and the diameter, and the pulp thickness increased until reaching a maximum in 355 dose kg ha(-1) of P2O5, although with little improvement from 278 to 355 kg ha(-1) of P2O5. The level of total soluble solids was not affected by P fertilization. Under similar conditions to this research, it is recommended a dose around 275 kg ha(-1) de P2O5.