Muskmelon production in soilless culture under saline irrigation practices and soil conditioner application

Abstract

The present work investigates soilless inert substrates and the use of saline water with 6.4 dS m-1 and of the soil conditioner, Barbary Plant G2, on water consumption, growing parameters, yield quality and quantity of muskmelon (Cucumis melo). The results point out the high potentiality of using saline water successfully for irrigation of muskmelon under soilless conditions. In average, the muskmelon water consumption was about 5066 m 3 ha-1. The average yield of three successive harvests was around 65-89 t ha-1. The obtained yield, biomass and water use efficiency along with the results of plant growth parameters indicated that both sand and perlite are more appropriate than pozzolan for growing muskmelon in soilless conditions. The beneficial effect of the soil conditioner on the improvement of both plant growth parameters and yield are highly related to the physical characteristics of the inert substrate. The poorer are the physical properties of the substrate, the more evident is the role of the soil conditioner and vice-versa.