INFLUENCE OF COVER SOIL IN PRODUCTION melon

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of land cover in the production of melon. The experimental design was a split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The plots were made by the covers: black polyethylene (plastic), silver polyethylene (double-sided), straw camailba and bare soil (control). The subplots planting methods: direct seeding and transplanting sown. The seedlings were grown in tray with 72 cells, plastic cups 180 mL and 125 mL vials. The tension of water in the soil was analyzed in each land cover, soil moisture through, putting up to 15 tensiometers; 30 and 45 cm deep, also constituting a subplot. The soil cover did not change the yield. Plants grown by direct seeding method provided a higher number of fruits / ha and marketable yield of fruits. The coverage of black polyethylene provided greater fresh weight of marketable fruits. The bare soil showed higher water tension, especially in the early stages of plant development, achieving a 165% greater than the lower voltage in the ground, which was obtained with silver polyethylene film tension. The polyethylene cover showed higher soil temperatures and air.