Adubação potássica em características agronômicas e pós-colheita de melancia.

Abstract

The fertilizations with potassium are essentials to the development of watermelon fruit since its formation, ripening, texture and palatability. The objective in this work was to evaluate the effect of potassic fertilization in agronomy characteristics and postharvesting of watermelon. The experimental outline was a randomized block with four replications. Five doses of potassic fertilization were tested, which were: 0; 60; 120; 180 e 240 kg ha-1 K2O in the form of potassium chloride with concentration of 60% of K2O on basic and two fertilizers of cover. The others nutritional requirements of culture were realized according your nutritional need. The cultivar used was the Manchester®, hybrid of Syngenta, using six plants per plot. Tillage operations of soil were realized, with a plowing and a harrowing and later raising seedbeds. The irrigation was realized with drip hoses. For assist of the control of weeds and moisture, was used mulching. Evaluated total average productivity (PR in ton ha-1), weight of fruits (PF, in kg), rind thickness in the peduncle region (ECP, in cm), of distal region (ECD, in cm) and total soluble solids (°Brix). The rind thickness in the peduncle and distal region weren´t altered by potassium doses. The dose which presented better results for productivity was 153,4 Kg de K2O ha-1. For weight of fruits the dose of 154,68 Kg de K2O ha-1 resulted in larger fruits. The maximum essential point of total sugar was with the dose of 108,75 Kg de K2O ha-1.