Função de resposta da cultura de meloeiro aos níveis de água e adubação nitogenada no vale do Curu, Ce

Abstract

To study the effect of water, nitrogen and the interaction between these factors on the economic yield and the production components of melon (Cucumis melo L.), a field experiment was carried out in the Experimental Farm Curu Valley, Pentecoste, Ceará, Brazil, from september to december, 2002. The statistical design was completely randomized blocks in split-plots, with four primary treatments, four secondary and four blocks. The main treatments corresponded to four water depths (W1=232,7; W2=334,7; W3=422,1; W4=567,8 mm) with four levels of nitrogen (N0=0; N1=75; N2=150; N3=300 kg.ha-1). The crop used was melon, hybrid AF-646, and the daily irrigations were controlled base on a class “A” evaporation tank, being the treatments W1, W2, W3 and W4, corresponding to 0,35 ECA, 0,70 ECA, 1,0 ECA and 1,5 ECA, respectively. The crop was installed at a 2,0 m x 0,5 m spacing, irrigated by a drip irrigation system with 3,75 L.h-1 emitters, space 0,5 m apart. The results showed that the water presented highly significant effect on the productivity of the melon, while the nitrogen was significant in the level of 6,43% and the interaction among the factors was not significant. The highest productivity estimated with the function was 25496,1 kg.ha- 1, corresponding to an application of 612,1 mm of water and and 224,4 kg.ha-1 of nitrogen. The maximum net income, R$/ha 3.353,24, was achieved with the application of 609,2 mm of water and 186,2 kg.ha-1 of nitrogen., providing an yield of 25384,3 kg.ha-1. The water use efficiency increased with the increasing levels of nitrogen up to the level of N 150 kg.ha-1, decreasing with the level of 300 kg.ha-1, for a maximum observed value of 70,4 kg.ha-1.mm-1 obtained with 232,7 mm of water deph and 150 kg.ha-1 of nitrogen. The economic water use efficiency was estimated as 41,66 kg.ha-1.mm-1, with the application of 186,2 kg.ha-1 of nitrogen.