Open AccessProductivity and quality of watermelon fruits as a function of doses potassium in the Western Amazon
Author(s) -
Francisco de Assis de Menezes,
Reginaldo Almeida Andrade,
Anderson Cristian Bergamin,
Andressa Gregolin Moreira,
Fábio Régis de Souza
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
scientific electronic archives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2316-9281
DOI - 10.36560/141120211458
Subject(s) - potassium , brix , productivity , horticulture , cultivar , human fertilization , nutrient , completely randomized design , biology , zoology , agronomy , chemistry , food science , sugar , ecology , organic chemistry , macroeconomics , economics
Potassium is the nutrient most demanded by watermelon, performing various physiological and biochemical functions, and its availability in the soil influences the production and quality of fruits. However, there is no recommendation for specific fertilization for the state of Rondônia, which has limited the production and quality of the harvested fruits. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of potassium doses on the productivity and quality of watermelon fruits, cultivar Crimson Sweet, in southern Western Amazonia. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Rondônia, in the municipality of Rolim de Moura, in an experimental design in randomized blocks, with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were doses 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 of K2O. The variables analyzed were fruit mass, longitudinal and transverse diameter of fruits, number of fruits per plant, soluble solids content, exocarp thickness and productivity. Potassium doses did not influence the mean mass and longitudinal and transverse diameter of the fruits. The number of fruits per plant increased linearly as a function of the potassium doses applied, and with 157 kg ha‑1 of K2O the highest values of °Brix were obtained. The dose of 147.2 kg ha-1 of K2O promotes yields 61.6% above the national average and 82% above the state average.