Utilização de polímero hidroabsorvente no meloeiro (Cucumis melon L.) sob diferentes lâminas de irrigação

This work was carried out to evaluate the use of a hydrogel polymer in melon crop under different irrigation depths, with the objective of improve water retention, and efficiency of water and nutrient utilization by plants. One trial consisted of two treatments with four replications: a treatment with irrigation depth corresponding to 75% of gross depth and 27g of the soil conditioner per plant; the control with irrigation depth equal to the gross depth and without conditioner. The following characteristics were evaluated: root length, yield and quality of melon fruits. Root growth was bigger in the plants where soil conditioner was used. Use of soil conditioner provided an increase on melon yield and number of fruits per linear meter. Mean fruit weight and total soluble solids were not influenced by soil conditioner application and irrigation depth reduction.