Two field experiments were conducted in Borborema, São Paulo State, Brazil, from October to December 2001 and February to April 2002, to evaluate the nutrients recruitment of watermelon fruits, Tide hybrid, as a result of potassium sources and doses. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with three replications, in 3x4 factorial scheme, the sources being evaluated: potassium chloride, nitrate and sulphate and doses of 50; 100; 200 and 300 kg ha-1 K2O. Greater recruitment of N, P, K, Ca, S and Cl by watermelon fruits was obtained in the first trial, while the recruitment of Mg was observed in the second trial. The dry mass and recruitment of N, P, K, and Ca increased with potassium doses. S and Cl of the watermelon fruits increased with the increase of KCl doses in a quadratic and linear form, respectively.
Citrullus lanatus; plant nutrition; potassium fertilizers
