Production and fruit quality of watermelon under different doses of potassium coverage evaluation

The potassium carries out several functions in the biochemistry and physiology of plants, such as the photosynthesis process, transport and storage of assimilated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and quality of watermelon CV. 'Crimson Select Plus' in function of potassium doses as top dressing. The experimental design was conducted in randomized blocks, with five treatments, four replications and 20 plants per plot. The treatments consisted of five potassium doses ( 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha(1)). The source of potassium used was potassium chloride (60% K2O), applied in a split way in top dressing. Production and quality of fruits evaluations were conducted: fruit diameter, length of fruit, fresh and dry mass fruit, pulp thickness, shell thickness and productivity. For quality assessment, analyses of soluble solids, pH, treatable acidity and ripening index were carried out. Bark thickness, pH, treatable acidity and ripening index have not been altered by doses of potassium. The dose with the highest quantitative and qualitative increase in watermelon crop cultivar "Crimson Select Plus" in top dressing was 209,39 kg K2O ha(-1).