title: Nitrogen and potassium concentrations in the nutrients solution for melon plants growing in coconut fiber without drainage.
abstract: With the objective of evaluating the effects of N and K concentrations for melon plants, an experiment was carried out from July 1, 2011 to January 3, 2012 in Muzambinho city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The "Bonus no. 2" was cultivated at the spacing of 1.1 × 0.4. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme with four N concentrations (8, 12, 16, and 20 mmol L(-1)) and four K concentrations (4, 6, 8, and 10 mmol L(-1)). The experimental plot constituted of eight plants. It was observed that the leaf levels of N and K, of N-NO₃ and of K, and the electrical conductivity (CE) of the substrate increased with the increment of N and K in the nutrients' solution. Substratum pH, in general, was reduced with increments in N concentration and increased with increasing K concentrations in the nutrients' solution. Leaf area increased with increments in N concentration in the nutrients solution. Fertigation with solutions stronger in N (20 mmol L(-1)) and K (10 mmol L(-1)) resulted in higher masses for the first (968 g) and the second (951 g) fruits and crop yield (4,425 gm(-2)).
authors.affiliation: Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Sul de Minas Gerais, Campus Muzambinho, Morro Preto s/n, 37890-000 Muzambinho, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gratieri
authors.forename: Arthur Bernardes
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cecílio Filho
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pavani
mesh_terms: D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D028463:Cucumis melo / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium