Two experiments were carried out with the objective of comparing methodologies for determination of the soil cover factor of melon when submitted to different conditions of water depths and salinity, in Mossoro, RN. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks in a 2 x 2 x 6 factorial scheme. Two methods were tested (Stocking's and ruler), two salinity levels (0.55 and 2.65 dS m-1) and six water depths (0.55, 0.70, 0.85, 1.00, 1.15 and 1.30 of the ETc). Both methods of measurement were efficient, with significant effects for both irrigation water depths and salinity in the melon crop being observed. The results obtained by the ruler method differed from Stocking's method in the melon only during the initial and rapid growth stages.
water deficit; cover coefficient; drip irrigation
