The effects of three different compost-based cropping management on the productive response and main quality parameters of watermelon fruits were investigated. Treatments, in comparison with the conventional cultivation method, were: soil amendment with an agricultural waste compost (AWC), a municipal waste compost (MWC) and a foliar treatment with a compost tea blend (CTB). The productive responses and colour parameters related to compost treatments did not show significant differences compared to control ones, which reached a total yield of about 10.22 Kg m-2 with a mean weight of 2.74 kg. AWC caused a higher ascorbic acid content with an increase of 50% than conventional treatment, while fruits obtained by CTB showed higher values in firmness and Quality Index than control samples. The analysis of main sugars highlighted that the application of compost as biofertilizer influenced the ratio among fructose, glucose and sucrose with respect to those observed for control fruits. This latter showed sucrose as the most abundant, conversely fructose was found in higher concentration in flesh fruits treated by AWC and MWC.

Compost and compost tea management of mini watermelon cultivations affects the chemical, physical and sensory assessment of the fruits

CELANO, Giuseppe;
2015-01-01

Abstract

The effects of three different compost-based cropping management on the productive response and main quality parameters of watermelon fruits were investigated. Treatments, in comparison with the conventional cultivation method, were: soil amendment with an agricultural waste compost (AWC), a municipal waste compost (MWC) and a foliar treatment with a compost tea blend (CTB). The productive responses and colour parameters related to compost treatments did not show significant differences compared to control ones, which reached a total yield of about 10.22 Kg m-2 with a mean weight of 2.74 kg. AWC caused a higher ascorbic acid content with an increase of 50% than conventional treatment, while fruits obtained by CTB showed higher values in firmness and Quality Index than control samples. The analysis of main sugars highlighted that the application of compost as biofertilizer influenced the ratio among fructose, glucose and sucrose with respect to those observed for control fruits. This latter showed sucrose as the most abundant, conversely fructose was found in higher concentration in flesh fruits treated by AWC and MWC.
2015
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11563/94933
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