اثرات روش هاي آبياري و مالچ هاي پلي اتيلن بر كيفيت گرمك در اصفهان

EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION METHODS AND POLYETHYLENE MULCHES ON QUALITY OF MELON (CUCUMIS MELO VAR. RETICULATUS) IN ISFAHAN

To study the applicable ways for increasing the quality of melon crop in Isfahan, different combinations of irrigation systems (surface, trickle and porous pipe) and polyethylene covers (transparent, black and no polyethylene mulch (control) were used. The study was carried out as a split-plot experiment in a randomized complete block design (irrigation systems as main plot and soil covers as subplot) with three replications. During growth period, cultural practices were done and fruits were sampled in three stages in order to measure the total soluble solids (TSS), water content, dry matter and also plant vegetative growth. Results showed that irrigation systems and soil covers (P=5%) have significant effect on recorded characteristics. Trickle and porous pipe irrigation systems caused at least 1% increase in TSS. In prous-pipe irrigation system, water seepage caused plant vegetative growth and fruit yield to reduce, due to poor quality of the pipes. The best treatment with high water use efficiency was trickle irrigation system. The effect of different polyethylene mulches on TSS was equal. The highest and lowest rates of TSS were 6.65% for porous pip irrigation with clear mulch and 4.19% for surface irrigation without mulch, respectively. Leaf area and length of plant and fresh-weight were higher in surface irrigation with polyethylene mulches.