Salinity and nutrient effects on plant growth, physiology and fruit quality of rockmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivated under soilless system

Salinity possesses challenges for agriculturalist to obtain optimum crop productions, yet could be employed as one of management strategies to modulate better quality of produce. In most cases, salinity potentially restricts nutrients balance, growth and production in many crops due to poor major nutrients availability and macronutrients deficiencies. Therefore, the overall objective of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of salinity and macronutrients on plant growth, physiology and fruit quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.) grown under soilless media system. Three (3) experiments were conducted to study the effects, best management of salinity, and macronutrients fortification in order to enhance the yield and quality of Cucumis melo L. In the first study, the effects of salinity from sodium chloride (NaCl) were assessed on the growth, physiology, and yield of (Cucumis melo L.) cultivar MG 9. The crop was grown in a substrate soilless culture using coco peats as medium from transplanting until harvest. Salinity treatment was imposed at 4.0 mS/cm whilst nutrient solution at 1.5 mS/cm acts as control set under completely randomized design (CRD) with four (4) replicates. Stem height, fresh fruit weight, fruit texture, total soluble solid, stomata conductance, transpiration rate, and net photosynthetic rate parameters were evaluated. The results imply that, no significant effects of salinity on the growth, physiology and yield of C. melo. Since, no significant difference were indicated, the rate of salinity imposed potentially to be used for further studies to elevate quality produce. The second (2) and third (3) experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence salinity sources in enhancing yield and fruits quality of C. melo. Sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium nitrate (KNO3) and macronutrients fortifications were used as the salinity sources at control concentration of 4.0 mS/cm each. The water (H20) and basic solution were used as control. All treatments were supplied with the same nutrients solution with completely randomized design (CRD) experiments in four (4) replicates. Parameters such as stem height, leaf area index (LAI), plant fresh and dry weight, fruit texture, total soluble solids, fruit dry weight, titratable acidity, stomata conductance, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, leaf water potential and nutrient accumulations were evaluated. Results demonstrated that, the parameters studied were independent of salinity sources except for relative water content, leaf water potential, fruit diameter, and plant fresh weight. These parameters were recorded to be reduced if 4.0 mS/cm macronutrients in the nutrient solution were used. Macronutrients reduced water potential 57.5 % over control set. Similarly, it too reduced plant fresh weight by 38.4 %, 37.4 %, and 34.3 % over the control, NaCl, and KNO3 treatments respectively. On the other hand, KNO3 treatment reduced the RWC and leaf water potential but no significant effect on Ca, plant fresh weight and fruit diameter were recorded. Overall conclusion indicated that, C. melo cultivar of MG 9 was moderately tolerant to 4.0 mS/cm NaCl salinity. The treatments of sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and macronutrients at the rate of 4.0 mS/cm were not effective in enhancing yield and overall fruit quality of C. melo.

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