Effect of direct coverage on melon with thermal blanket

Authors

  • Artur José Guerra Amaral Instituto Politécnico de Santarém - Escola Superior Agrária https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0668-6731
  • Ana Carolina Marques Instituto Politécnico de Santarém - Escola Superior Agrária
  • João Bernardo Instituto Politécnico de Santarém - Escola Superior Agrária
  • Maria João Jorge Instituto Politécnico de Santarém - Escola Superior Agrária
  • Samuel Sequeira Instituto Politécnico de Santarém - Escola Superior Agrária

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25746/ruiips.v11.i3.32510

Keywords:

Cucumis melo L., direct coverage, thermal blanket, yield

Abstract

Melons are offered to consumers in Portugal throughout the year. However, national production generally takes place from the beginning of June to the beginning of September. The use of direct coverage with a thermal blanket, in this crop, may allow a faster vegetative development at the beginning of the cultural cycle; the anticipation of the harvest period; the increase in productivity. At the end of March 2023, a trial was set up, in completely randomized plots, on the experimental campus of Qta. Do Galinheiro, Santarem. This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of direct coverage with a thermal blanket on the “Pias” melon cultivar. We have quantified the Leaf Area Index (LAI), using a ceptometer, the number of fruits per plant, the average weight of fruits and commercial productivity. Direct coverage with thermal blanket allowed to increase the LAI. At 43 Days After Planting (DAP) treatment with thermal blanket (CMT) presented a value of 2,3m2/m2, while in the treatment without thermal blanket (SMT) it was 1,6 m2/m2. The differences were not, however, statistically significant. The average number of fruits per plant was significantly higher (p<0,05) in the CMT treatment (3,2 fruits/Plt) than in the SMT treatment (2,5 fruits/Plt). The average fruit weight was higher in the CMT (1,993 kg/fruit) and lower in the SMT (1,824 kg/fruit), although the difference was not significant (p>0,05). Commercial productivity was higher (p<0,05)  in the CMT (26 154 kg/ha) compared to the SMT treatment (18 877 kg/ha).

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Published

2023-12-31

How to Cite

Amaral, A. J. G., Marques, A. C., Bernardo, J., Jorge, M. J., & Sequeira, S. (2023). Effect of direct coverage on melon with thermal blanket. Revista Da UI_IPSantarém, 11(3), 99–100. https://doi.org/10.25746/ruiips.v11.i3.32510

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2023): Proceedings of the International Conference IMPACT SCIENCE’23

Section

Abstract

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Copyright (c) 2023 Artur José Guerra Amaral, Ana Carolina Marques, João Bernardo, Maria João Jorge, Samuel Sequeira

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