Chae Shin Lim

Effects of Non-drainage Hydroponic Culture on Growth, Yield, Quality and Root Environments of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

This study was conducted to figure out the possibility of non-drainage in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) hydroponics culture. Plants were grown under 3 different levels of drainage, standard (20~40%, SD), minimum (5~10%, MD), and non-drainage (ND). Throughout cultivation periods, constant water content and electrolyte conductivity changes in root zone were observed in SD in the range of 60~70% and 1.5~2.5 dS · m−1, respectively. ND treatment caused the fluctuation in water content and electrolyte conductivity of root zone and its change ranges were 30~50% in water content and 2~6 dS · m−1 in electrolyte conductivity, but ND treatment did not decrease fruit quality. Even if fruit fresh weight was slightly lower in ND with 1,863 g, than in SD with 1,990 g, the fruit weight in ND meets standard market size, 1,800~2,000 g. Higher soluble solids content was observed in fruit in ND than in SD and MD. Total amount of drainage per plant was 27,718, 15,769 and 2,346 mL in SD, MD and ND, respectively. SD showed 83.2 m drainage, 34.5% drainage of irrigation amount whereas required total irrigation amount in ND was very low with 7 m.