Effect of different pH values of the nutritious solution in the development of melon varieties

Abstract

The melon culture (Cucumis melo L.) is very important in the Brazilian horticulture. The production of vegetables in hydroponic conditions has been winning prominence, due to larger income for area and better conditions for cultivation, with the advantage of being available for production at any time of the year. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different pH values of the nutritious solution in the development of different melon varieties. To reach the objectives of this study, three melon varieties were used (Gália, Rustic and Orange) in nutritious solutions with five pH levels (4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0). Thirty days after the seedlings transplant, the growth analysis and leaf analysis were performed to determine the number of leaves and plant height, and to determine the macro and micronutrients in plants in stage of initial development, respectively. The results showed that the studied pH values did not interfere in the growth and expansion of the photosynthetic area of the plants; the Rustic variety presented the best results for both  the number of leaves and plants height, and there was no significant difference in the amounts of N, P, K, Mg and Zn among the different melon varieties
for all studied pH values of the nutritious solution.