Osman YILDIRIM, Nilgün HALLORAN, Şeyda ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Neslihan ŞENGÜL

Effects of different irrigation programs on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of drip-irrigated melon

A field study was conducted in Ankara, a semi-arid region of Central Anatolia, Turkey, on clay-loamy soils in the vegetation seasons of 2005 and 2006. Kırkağaç melon cultivar (Cucumis melo L. cv. Kırkağaç) was irrigated by the drip method from transplantation to the beginning of the flowering (ISf), fruit setting (ISfs), ripening (ISr), and harvesting (ISh) periods. Water amounting to 50% (P50), 75% (P75), and 100% (P100) of full irrigation water were applied. Some analyses were carried out regarding the growth, yield, and fruit quality parameters in these irrigation programs. Moreover, the amount of water, the seasonal evapotranspiration, and the water use efficiency having been used were determined for each irrigation program. Carrying on the irrigation during the ripening period furthered shoot growth except P100 application, did not significantly affect fruit yield and the soluble solids content of the fruit flesh. Similar but relatively larger fruit size and heavier weight were found in the treatments of ISr and ISh. Fruit yields in the P75 and P100 applications were found similar, but they were found to be higher than the P50 application. The soluble solids contents and the ratings of sensory characteristics were higher in the P75 application. As a result of this study, with respect to the considerably high yield and fruit quality, it was suggested that irrigation be kept on going until the beginning of fruit setting, not during the ripening period, and the application of 75% of full irrigation water amount (ISr P75) is the most convenient irrigation program. In addition, irrigation water amounting to 319.6-331.1 mm was applied and 427.1-472.6 mm seasonal evapotranspiration and 8.9-9.2 kg m-3 water use efficiency was determined in the (ISr P75) irrigation program.

Effects of different irrigation programs on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of drip-irrigated melon

Keywords:

Kırkağaç, melon drip irrigation, yield, fruit quality, water use efficiency,

PDF

___

Alizadeh, K.A., J.M. Baghani, and G.M. Haghnia. 1999. Effect of deficit irrigation by drip and furrow systems on the yield and quality of melon at Mashad, Iran. In: 17th ICID Int. Congress on Irrig. and Drain., Vol. 1C, Granada-Spain, pp. 263-269.
Amor, F.M. del, M. Carvajal, V. Martinez, A. Cerda, F.M. del Amor, and L.F.M. Marcelis. 1998. Response of muskmelon plants (Cucumis melo L.) to irrigation with saline water. In: Second Int. Symp. on Models for Plant Growth, Environmental Control and Farm Management in Protected Cultivation, Acta Hortic. 456: 263-268.
Bhella, H.S. 1985. Muskmelon growth, yield and nutrition as influenced by planting method and trickle irrigation. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 26: 793-796.
Bogle, C.R. and T.K. Hartz. 1986. Comparison of drip and furrow irrigation for muskmelon production. HortSci. 21:242-244.
Coelho, E.F., V.F. de Sousa, B.H.N. Rodrigues, V.A.B. de Souza, C. Andrade, V.F. de Sousa, V.A.B. de Sousa, and C. de Andrade. 1999. Melon yield under different irrigation intervals and placement of drip lines in cohesive sandy soils. RBEAA 3: 309- 315.
Dasgan, H.Y., C. Kirda, N. Baytorun, K. Abak, and S. Büyükalaca. 1999. Water and nitrogen relationships in fertigated greenhouse grown melon (Cucumis melo L.). In: Proceedings of the First Int. Symp. on Cucurbits, Adana, Turkey, Acta Hortic. 492: 233- 236.
Faberio, C., F.M. Santa Olalla, and J.A. Juan. 2002. Production of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) under controlled deficit irrigation in a semi-arid climate. Agric. Water Manage. 54: 93- 105.
Flocker, W.J., J.C. Lingle, R.M. Davis, and R.J. Miller. 1965. Influence of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on yield, quality and size of cantaloupes. Proc. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 86: 424-432.
Gil, J.A., N. Montano, and L. Khan. 2000. Effect of four irrigation strategies on the yield and its components in two cultivars of melon (Cucumis Melo L.). RABSU 1: 48-52.
Hartz, T.K. 1997. Effects of drip irrigation scheduling on muskmelons yield and quality. Sci. Hortic. 69: 117-122.
Hernandez, F.B.T., J.A.A. Bedum, M.A. Suzuki, and S. Buzetti. 1995. Effect of irrigation levels on yield of muskmelons in the Ilha Solteira Region, Sao Paulo. Cultura Agron. 4: 1-10.
Howell, T.A., R.H. Cuenca, and K.H. Solomon. 1990. Crop yield response. In: Management of Farm Irrigation Systems (Eds: Hoffman, G.J., T.A. Howell, and K.H. Solomon). ASAE Monog. Michigan, pp. 91-122.
Jensen, M.E., R.D. Burman, and R.G. Allen (Ed.). 1989. Evapotranspiration and Irrigation Water Requirements, ASCE, Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice 70, New York.
Kuşvuran, Ş., Ş. Ellialtıoğlu, F. Yaşar, and K. Abak. 2007. Effects of salt stress on ion accumulation and activity of some antioxidant enzymes in melon (Cucumis melo L.). Journal of Food, Agric. and Environ. 5: 351-354.
Lei, T.W., J. Xiao, J.P. Wang, Z.Z. Liu, G.Y. Li, J.G. Zhang, and J.H. Mao. 2003. Experimental investigation into effects of drip irrigation with saline ground water on water use efficiency and quality of honeydew melons in Hetao Region Inner Mongolia. Transactions of the Chinese Soc. Agric. Eng. 19: 80-84.
Leskovar, D.I., J.C. Ward, R.W. Sprague, and A. Meiri. 2001. Yield, quality and water use efficiency of muskmelon affected by irrigation and transplanting versus direct seeding. Hortsci. 36: 286-291.
Lester, G. E., N.F. Obeker, and J. Coons. 1994. Preharvest furrow and drip irrigation schedule effects on postharvest muskmelon quality. Postharvest Bio. and Tech. 4: 57-63.
Matheis, J.P. and J.K. Fellman. 1999. Preharvest factors influencing flavor of fresh fruit and vegetables. Postharvest Bio. and Tech. 15: 227-232.
Medlinger, S. and M. Fossen. 1993. Flowering, vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality in musk melons under saline conditions. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 118: 868-872.
Meiri, A., D.J. Lauter, and N. Sharabani. 1995. Shoot growth and fruit development of muskmelon under saline and nonsaline soil water deficit. Irrig. Sci. 16: 15-21.
Merriam, J.L. and J. Keller. 1978. Farm Irrigation System Evaluation: A Guide for Management. Utah State Univ., Logan, USA.
Mitcham, B., M. Cantwell, and A. Kader. 1996. Methods determining quality of fresh commodities. Perishables Handling Newsletter Iss. No: 85, pp. 1-5.
Papazafiriou, Z.G. 1980. A compact procedure for trickle irrigation system design. ICID Bull. 29:28-45.
Pew, W.D. and B.R. Gardner. 1983. Effects of irrigation practices on vine growth, yield and quality of muskmelons. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 108: 134-137.
Ribas, F., M.J. Cabello, M.M. Moreno, A. Moreno, and L. Lopez Bellido. 2001. Effect of irrigation and potassium application in melon (Cucumis Melo L.) production, I: Yield. Investigacion Agraria, Produccion Y Proteccion Vegetales 16: 283-297.
Sarı, N., K. Abak, and H.Y. Dasgan. 2000. Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde Kavun Yetiştiriciliği (in Turkish). TÜBİTAK TARP Yayınları, Adana.
Shishido, Y., T. Yahashi, N. Seyama, and S. Imada. 1992. Effects of leaf position and water management on translocation and distribution of 14 C assimilates in fruiting muskmelons. J. Japan. Soc. Hort. Sci. 60: 897-903.
Shmueli, M. and D. Goldberg. 1971. Sprinkler, furrow and trickle irrigation of muskmelon in an arid zone. Hortsci. 7: 241-243.
SIS, 2003. Agricultural Structure 2001. State Institute of Statistics, Prime Ministry, Republic of Turkey, Ankara.
Sivritepe, H.O., A. Eriş, and N. Sivritepe. 1999. The effects of priming treatments in melon seeds. Acta Hort. 492: 287-295.
Sousa, V.F. De, E.F. Coelho, V.A.B. de Sousa, and V.F. de Sousa. 1999. Irrigation frequency in melons cultivated in sandy soil. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 34: 659-664.
Stanley, C.D. and D.N. Maynard. 1990. Vegetables. In: Irrigation of Agricultural Crops (Co-eds: Steward, B.A. and D.R. Nielsen). Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 921-950.
Warriner, S.A., and R.D. Henderson. 1989. Rockmelon Irrigation Management for Market Quality. In: Research and Development Conference on Vegetables, The Market Producer, Richmond, Australia, pp. 239-242.
Winer, B.J., D.R. Brown, and K.M. Michels. 1991. Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. McGrow Hill, Boston, USA.