Resumen

MORALES V, D et al. Correlation between potassium dose, fertilizer placing, mineral composition and yield of melon (Cucumis melo L.) Mara municipality, Zulia state, Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2007, vol.24, n.1, pp.81-93. ISSN 0378-7818.

Four field experiments were carried out with the purpose of studying the interrelation between chemical composition, potassium dose, way of placing fertilizer and yield of melon. Amounts of K applied were 0, 30, 60 y 90 kg.ha^-1. Essay was made in Mara municipality belonging to Zulia state which is classified like dry tropical forest, with sandy loam soils, and Typic Haplargids. A randomized complete-block design with 12 treatments and four replicated was used. It was found correlation between total fruit weight (TFW) versus potassium at foliar tissue (PFT) and/or complete plant (KP) for every farm. Variables fruit number per plant, fruits size, yield and foliar N, P and K contents, and on complete plant. Results suggest that for a maximum production of melon, optimum content of N is associated with 3.75 N g.kg^-1, for Puerto Rico 2001 (PR-2001) farm. The maximum production for San Cristobal-2001 (SC-2001) farm was found in KP between 5.5 and 6.0 g.kg^-1 and between 2.0 and 2.5 g.kg^-1 of KH. The maximum production for PR-2202 was found with the K concentration in the leaf (KH) between 5.5 and 5.7 g.kg^-1 and for Cartagena 2002 (CA-2002); the optimum concentration of K in the leaf was 4,0 g.kg^-1. The 2002 L was not including at the study for showing similar behaviour than C. Fruit weight also was increased with potassium dose applied by founding maximum yield with K3 (60 kg.ha^-1 de K₂O). Increases in applications of potassium resulted in yield increases, in where C and L were more effectives in comparison to control.

Palabras clave : Potassium dose; fertilizer placing; yield; muskmelon.