Nitrogen levels through fertirrigation and plant density on melon crop in a vertisol

This study consisted of one experiment with melon (Cucumis melo L.), carrie d out in a Vertisol in Juazeiro, BA, Brazil, in 1995, with the objective of evaluating the effects of nitrogen levels through fertirrigation and plant density on fruit yield and quality. The N levels were 0, 80, 130 and 180 k g/ha, combined with row spacings of 2.0 and 1.8 m and 0.20 m between plants within the row, with one or two plants/hole. The source of N was urea appl ied daily up to 42 days after germination, through drip irrigation. All tre atments had a uniform fertilization of 120 kg/ha of P2O5 and 120 kg/ha of K 2O. No significant difference was caused by spacing between rows in the stu died variables. Eighty kg/ha of N combined with one plant per hole gave a y ield of 34.07 ton/ha, being 55,7% of fruit allocated to inside market, not significantly lower than those obtained with the highest N levels in any co mbination. This same N level gave fruits with 10.22 degrees Brix, significa ntly higher than the treatment without N and not significantly lower than t he other levels. In order to get high number of good fruit for out side mar ket it was necessary to elevate the density to two plants per hole and N le vel to 130 or 180 kg/ha. Mean weight of fruits increased from 1.008 to 1.70 5 kg with the increase in the levels of N and the decrease in plant density of two plants per hole to one plant per hole.