EFFECT OF INCREASING PLANT-DENSITY AND SALINITY ON YIELD AND FRUIT-QUALITY IN MUSKMELON

The melon cultivar 'Galia' was grown at three plant densities (2, 4 and 8 plants m-2) and four irrigation salinity levels (EC(w) 1.2-8.0 dS m-1). Increasing plant density significantly increased the number of fruits per area but decreased mean fruit weight, whereas increasing salinity only decreased mean fruit weight. Total yield was not affected by increasing density but decreased with increasing salinity. No significant interaction was found between density and salinity in yield parameters. The reduction in mean fruit weight with increasing density and salinity was constant for all fruits within each treatment. Total soluble solids increased with increasing salinity but decreased with increasing density. Density and salinity appear to act independently on most yield and quality parameters.