DEVELOPMENT OF MUSKMELON WITH DIFFERENT MIXTURES OF VERMICOMPOST:SAND UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

Abstract

In order to evaluate vermicompost:sand mixtures on the development of muskmelon under greenhouse conditions, four periods of watering were applied. Four types of vermicompost (VC) mixed with sand (S): 25:75, 30:70, 35:65 and 40:60 (VC:S;%:% by volume) were used. Each mixture, due to the water-holding capacity of VC, was watered at 24, 48, 72, or 96 h respectively. The watering each 96 h and the mixture VC:S, independent of the manure type used to prepare the VC, had favorable effect on yield, fruit weight, equatorial and polar diameters, pulp thickness, placenta cavity, fruits per plant, and days to harvest (74.39 t·ha⁻¹, 1,334.00 g·fruit⁻¹, 13.27, 14.79, 3.42, and 5.11 cm, 15 fruits, 94.6 days average, respectively). Since synthetic fertilizers were not used during the crop growth and the vegetative and reproductive cycle were completed it is possible to conclude that the VC: S mixtures satisfied the muskmelon nutrimental requirements.

Keywords:

• organic manure
• Cucumis melo
• plant growth
• yield
• humus earthworm
• potting media

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by a grant of the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, with code 02-03-1502-2905 and by grant of the Consejo Estatal de Ciencia y Tecnología (COECYT) Coahuila of Zaragoza state, México, inside the Programa Beca—Tesis de Licenciatura.