MINERAL AND ORGANIC FERTILIZING ON THE ME LON CROP IN A VERTISOL OF THE SUBMIDDLE SAO-FRANCISCO VALLEY, BRAZIL

This work was composed of two experiments with melon (Cucumis melon L. ), carried out in 1989 and 1990 in two places in a Vertisol in Juazeir o, BA, Brazil. The treatments consisted of levels of nitrogen, phospho rus, potassium, and cattle manure. The results showed that melon respo nded positively to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization, b ut not to cattle manure in both experiments. In one experiment, it was possible to determine the economical levels for the three nutrients, which were: 74 kg/ha of N, 114 kg/ha Of P2O5 and 156 kg/ha of K2O, giv ing an average yield of 30,425 kg/ha. The N had a positive influence o n the brix and on the number of fruits. The P influenced positively th e weight of fruits.