Melon (Cucumis melo) has a high demand of mineral fertilization, suggesting the possibility of using alternative products such as biofertilizers. In this experiment we evaluated the yield and postharvest of the melon crop, cv. Mirage (Harper), subjected to different doses (and types) of biofertilizers. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 4×2+2 factorial arrangement, with treatments constituted of four doses of biofertilizers (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 L/week), two types of liquid biofertilizers (mixed aerobically fermented biofertilizer and pure anaerobically fermented bovine biofertilizer) with two additional treatments: control and recommended mineral fertilization. We analyzed yield, average fruit weight, fruit diameter, soluble solids, titratable acidity, firmness, pulp thickness and central cavity. The mixed biofertilizer was more efficient than pure bovine biofertilizer for most of the analyzed variables. The highest melon yield (32.62 t/ha) was achieved with a dose of 1.08 L/plant/week for mixed biofertilizer and 1.41 L/plant/week for pure bovine biofertilizer (25.87 t/ha). Both the mixed biofertilizer and the pure bovine biofertilizer, at the rate (dose) of 2.0 L/plant/week were better than the control and better than mineral fertilization by the criterion of pulp thickness and central cavity.
Cucumis melo; organic fertilizer; postharvest; soluble solids.
