EFFECT OF FOLIAR FEEDING ON THE YIELD LEVEL AND QUALITY OF SIX LARGE-FRUIT MELON (Cucumis melo L.) CULTIVARS

An experiment was established to evaluate an effect of foliar application of Florovit and Ekolist-Warzywa+Urea on the yield level and quality of six large-fruit melon cultivars (Pacstart, Yupi, Seledyn, Polydor II, Gattopardo, Legend) cultivated in the filed under the climatic conditions of central-eastern Poland. A higher yield of better quality was achieved in the years with relatively high air temperature and low rainfall in August when melon finishes to grow. Florovit-fertilized plants produced higher marketable yield and a higher number of marketable fruit than non-fertilized plants. Foliar feeding with both formulations investigated significantly increased the average fruit weight, flesh thickness and fruit flavour as compared to the non-fertilized melons. The cultivar ‘Yupi’ produced the highest marketable yield and the greatest number of marketable fruit whereas ‘Seledyn’ was characterized by the highest average fruit weight. ‘Gattopardo’ cultivated without foliar feeding and ‘Yupi’ and ‘Gattopardo’ fertilized with Florovit and Ekolist+Urea produced the best fruit in terms of their flavour.