Effect of Substrates on Growth and Yield of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract

         The effect of growing media on growth and yield of muskmelon were  investigated. The experiment was performed in 2x3 Factorial in Completely Randomized Design with 5 replications. Two cultivars of muskmelon: " Green net T778" and "Pot orange T1957" were grown in 3 types of growing media which were peat moss, coconut dust and rice husk ash. The results revealed that plant growth and yield such as two cultivars of muskmelon stem height, leaf width, leaf length, chlorophyll content (SPAD), fruit circumference, fruit flesh thickness and fruit flesh density was not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). There will be stem diameter, flesh and dry weight of stem, fruit weight and total dissolved solid was significantly different among the treatments (p<0.05). Muskmelon Green net T778 grows higher than Pot orange T1957. When considering effects of growing media on growth of muskmelon, it was found that the use of different planting materials resulted in the growth and yield of muskmelon stem height, leaf width, leaf length, chlorophyll content (SPAD), flesh and dry weight of stem, fruit weight, fruit circumference, fruit flesh density and total dissolved solid was not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05) The Muskmelon cultivars in peat moss and coconut dust, fruit weight and total dissolved solid was not significantly different among the treatments (p<0.05). After cost analysis found that the cost of planting muskmelon varieties Green net T778 will be more profit. The highest profit is around 17,532 baht/crop/greenhouse. can be obtained from growing the muskmelon cultivars "Green net T778" can be grown in coconut dust. For growing muskmelon with commercial purposes, thus, coconut dust can compensate imported soilless substrate as peat moss because of low cost and good effect on plant growth.