A study was carried out aiming to investigate management strategies for use of brackish water in the accumulation of dry matter and nutrients in two cultivars of melon (C1 - Sancho and C2 - MedeLλi n) irrigated with low (S1 = 0.61 dS m-1) and high (S2 = 4.78 dS m-1) salinity water in different phases of crop: S1S1S2S2 - T1, S2S1S2S2 - T2, S2S2S1S2 - T3. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th term correspond, respectively, to different phases - initial growth, flowering, fruit maturation and harvest. Alternate irrigation during the crop cycle, two days of consecutive application with S1 water followed by one day with S2 water (S1 2 days + S2 1day - T4) and irrigation with S2 water throughout the cycle - T5 was also tested. Furthermore, as control, management practice at the farm where the experiment was conducted consisting of irrigation with a mixture of 37% S1 water and 63% of S2 water -T0 was used. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 6 x 2 split-plots with four replications. The total dry matter accumulation in shoots of cv. Sancho was greater than Medellín in all management strategies. The nutrients required most by the two cultivars were calcium, potassium and nitrogen.
Cucumis melo L.; salt stress; plant nutrient
