Economic analysis of the use of saline water in melon cultivation

Abstract In Brazil, the State of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest producer of melons for exportation where in irrigation waters of different salinity are utilized. With the objective of studying economical viability of two melon cultivars (Orange Flesh and Goldex), irrigated with waters of high salinity in combination with different doses of K2O, two experiments were conducted during the years of 2003 and 2004, in the municipality of Mossoró - RN. In the first experimente water of EC of 0.80 and 3.02 dS m-1 were used in two cultivars fertilized with 273 kg ha-1 of K2O while in the second experiment waters of EC 0.52 and 2.41 dS m-1 combined with diferente doses of K (218, 273, 328, 383 and 438 kg ha-1 of K2O) in the cultivar Goldex were tested. The experiments were conducted in a radomized blocks with four replications. The treatments arranged in split plot scheme in the second experiment. Contrary to cultivar Goldex, use of high salinity water (EC = 3.02 dS m-1) in the irrigation of cultivar Orange Flesh showed to be economically viable. In case of cultivar Goldex irrigated with saline water (EC = 2.41 dS m-1) the production economically viable was only possible when higher doses of potassium were applied.