title: Modelling sustainable salt water management under deficit irrigation conditions for melon in Spain and Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In water scarcity areas the use of saline water for irrigation is a common practice. In this study, experimental data from two two-year melon tests were collected for the calibration (2004 'Yellow Melon' (YeMe) type) and validation (2002 YeMe, 2005 and 2006 'Piel de Sapo' (PiSa) type) processes in melon crop simulation under deficit irrigation conditions using salt water. The simulations were carried out for Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) and Ceará (Brazil) using the MOPECO model, which includes optimized regulated deficit irrigation (ORDI) methodology. The objective was to determine the most suitable irrigation strategy for both areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under fresh water conditions, ORDI may increase yield by up to 20% (PiSa) and 7% (YeMe) compared with constant deficit irrigation. Higher water deficit should be induced during the vegetative development and ripening stages. The rainfall between irrigation periods is able to leach the salts supplied by the irrigation water.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of ORDI with different strategies for managing saline water may increase water use efficiency. In these areas it may be of interest not to apply the leaching fraction (saving up to 67% of irrigation water). However, leaching of the soluble salts accumulated before starting the most sensitive periods may be suitable.
authors.affiliation: Travessa Dom Jose Lourenço, 130, 60450-245, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kelly N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: CA El Chaparrillo, Delegación Provincial Agricultura, C/Alarcos 21, E-13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.affiliation: Instituto Federal Tecnologico do Ceará IFCE, Sobral, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valnir Júnior
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Estudios del Agua (CREA), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ctra. de Las Peñas, km 3.2, E-02071, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tarjuelo
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Estudios del Agua (CREA), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ctra. de Las Peñas, km 3.2, E-02071, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation; D018533:Biomass; D001938:Brazil; D002138:Calibration; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018526:Plant Transpiration; D011891:Rain; D054712:Salinity; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D013030:Spain; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012492:Salts; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Cucumis melo L; MOPECO; ORDI; leaching fraction; water productivity