The experiment was carried out during the period of April to July 2002 in the field, in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, to evaluate the effect of soil coverages with polyethylene films of different colors (yellow, brown, black, silvered and no soil coverage) and irrigation depths (100%, 86% and 71% of standard depth) on fruit quality and yield of Gold Mine melon cultivated during rainfall season. The experiment was arranged in a 5 x 3 factorial, in randomized complete blocks design, with four replications. We evaluated the number and yield of commercial fruits, non-commercial and total fruits,fruit mean mass, fruit classification, pulp firmness and thickness, and total soluble solids content. There was significant interaction between coverage types and irrigation depths for mean mass of commercial fruits, with the polyethylene films registering greater values compared to the control treatment. Highest commercial and total fruit yield and percentage of export type fruits, total soluble solids content and pulp thickness were obtained using polyethylene films. The irrigation depths did not influence yield and quality of fruits.
Cucumis melo; polyethylene films; water management; yield; total soluble solids
