Melon Cultivation in Sand and Hardwood Sawdust

Pertanika 15(3), 217·220 (1992)

R.M. RAJA HARUN', DA. HALL', C.M. HITCHON and R.A.K. SZMIDT. The Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincmive, Ayr, Scotlnnd.

Keywords: melon cultivation, sand, hardwood sawdust

ABSTRAK Pertumbuhan dan daya pengeluaran tembikai, kultivaT 'PolidaT' ditaksir dalam 2, 4 dan S liter posir dan abuk kayu heros yang diaiTi sehingga melimpah dengan larutan nutrien sepenuhnya. Tanaman tersebut dibesarkan dalam rumah haca )Iang di set siang dan matam pada suku 18°C/15°C dengan ventilasi 26' C. Jumlnh minjirim boJang dan daun kering adalnh tidak herbez.a samada semasa penjagaan ataupun se!epas buah dipetik. Min hasil buah-buahan (bilnngan dan herat) tidak dipengaruhi oleh isipadu sub.strat tetapi tern)'ata (P

ABSTRACf The growth and productivity oj melons, cuUivar 'Polidor', were assessed in 2, 4 and 8 litres ofsand and hardwood sawdust irrigated to excess with a complete nutrient solution. The plants were grown in a glasshouse set at day/ night temperatures of lS'C/15'C with venting at 26'C. Mean total stem and leaf dry matter after the jmits were harvested were not significantly different between treatments. Mean jmit yield (number and weight) was not affected l7y substrate volume but was significantly (P

INTRODUCTION comprising sawdust from temperate hardwood The initial capital cost of setting up a deep species. culture recirculating nutrient solution system, as described by Lim and Wan (1985) is prohibitively MATERIALS AND METHODS high. Some amount of experience and technical Plant culture expertise are also needed in managing a Single, month-old melon seedlings. cultivar recirculating nutrient solution system. These fac tors have discouraged growers from adopting this 'Polidor', propagated in rockwool cubes (7.5 em method of hydroponic culture. X 7.5 em X 7.5 em) were planted on 25 May 1990 The use of rockwool and perlite as growing into two different substrates, namely sand and media, with complete nutrient solution supplied hardwood sawdns1 (comprising 90% oak, 5% asb via drip lines, is less costly than recirculating and 5% ehestnnt). These unlimed and unfertilised solution systems and is preferred in Europe substrates were contained in 2, 4 and 8 litre black (Vaughan 1989). Wim nutrient solution not be polythene bags with a common depm of 20 em 10 ing recirculated, there is reduced risk of disease ensure similar drainage rates and air-filled spread in the root system. However, horticultural porosities (AFP). rockwool and perlite may be too expensive for a The experiment was carried out in a glass short-term crop such as melon. The present house Sel at day/night temperature of 18'/15'C investigation compares the use of an alternative with venting at 26·C. A total daily volume of 2.7 inorganic substrate (sand) and an organic substrate lilres/plam of complete nurrient solution at an

PresentAddress: Department ofAgriculture. N.J. Horticultural and Plant BreedingS,atioD. Loughgall. Armagh BT618JB Northern Ireland. 2 Present Address: Pershore College of Horticulture, Avon Bank, Pershore, Worcestershire WRIO 3JP England. R.M. RAJA HARUN. DA. HALL. GM. HITCHON & RAK. SZMIDT electrical condllcti"icy of 2.5 mS/em and a pH of Mean fruit number per plant (Table Ic) was 5.5 (Hitchon et al. 1990) was applied by drip 20 per cent higher (significant at P

218 PERTANIK.A VOL. 15 NO.3, 1992 TABLE I The effects of substrate and substrate volumes on ~rowth and productivity of melons.

la Ib Ie Id Ie

Leaf + Stem First Fruit Second rruil Fruit Fruit dry WI. g/planl days after days after number/plant kg/plant a:: sowing sowing t"" "'0 Z Volume Sawdust &tnd Volume Sawdust Sand Volume Sawdust Sand Volume Sawdust Sand Volume Sawdust Sand Volume "C (Jilres) means means means means means 9 ." ~ "'~ 8 112.0 118.0 110.0 96.0 93.6 94.8 99.5 98.8 99.2 1.5 1.9 1.7 2.13 2.36 2.25 ...; is ~ z :; 4 108.8 110.9 109.9 98.9 94.6 96.8 99.7 95.4 97.5 1.5 1.9 1.7 1.99 2.32 2.16 Z <: 0 '"~ r 2 104.9 111.6 108.3 98.8 93.8 96.2 99.6 99.7 99.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 2.00 2.28 2.14 '"~ Z"' Substrate 108.6 110.2 97.9 94.0 99.6 98.0 1.5 1.8 2.04 2.32 9 '"~ .'" means ;:0 '" .~ '" '" Vol. (V) ~ 0 Signif. NS NS NS NS NS :r;'" Subw(S) ~ C Signif NS ** NS ** * ~ and S.E.d. 1.25 0.10 0.11

VxS NS NS NS NS NS Sig-niL

NS '" [Jot significant ... = P

,~ ;:0 R.M. RAJA HARUN. DA HALL. GM. BrrCHON & RAK. SZMIDT seedlings were very well developed at transplant Porosity (AFP) Measurements. Acta Hort. 221: ing. Similarly, Nichols (1981) observed that well 35-44. rooted cuttings and seedlings established well in BuI'\'T, A.C. 1988. Media and Mixesfor Container Grown fresh bark and sawdust. In the present experi Plants. London: Unwin Hyman Ltd. 309 pp. ment, any toxic effects of the sawdust may have influenced plant productivity only during the re HALL, D.A., G.M. H,TCHON & R.A.K SZMIDT. 1988. productive stage, resulting in reduced fruit set On the Way to a Smaller Bag. Grower 110: 15-16. and fruit development. Further work is needed HITCHOK, G.M., DA. HALL and R.A.K. S"UOT. 1990. to identify sawdusts from various species which Hydroponic Production of Glasshouse Toma are not toxic to plant growth and productivity. toes in Sardinian Plaster-grade Perlite. 2nd. Int. The identification of toxins present and methods Syrnp. on Protected Cultivation ofVegetables in to eliminate them need to be investigated. In soft Mild Winter Climates. Crete, Greece. Acta Hort. wood bark, volatile toxins present are known to 287: 261-266. be eliminated by composting, making the bark LIM, £.5. and c.K. WAN. 1985. Vegetable Production suitable for use as a growing medium (Aaron in the Tropics using a Two-phase Substrate Syg. 1973, 1982; Still el al. 1976). tern of Soilless Culture. Proc of 6th Int. Congr. on Soilless Culture. Wageningen. 1984. p. 317 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 328. The author (RMRH) wishes to gratefully thank the British Council (Malaysia) for the award of ICHOLS, D.G. 1981. The Effects of Pinus radiata Bark Toxicity on Early Growth of Plants in Royal Society (Malaysia) Fellowship for funding Containers. Scientia Hort. 15: 291-298. research and sabbatical leave at the SAC Auchincruive, Ayr, Scotland and colleagues at &uA HARUN, RM., DA. HALL, RA.K SZMJDT and G.M. SAC for assistance and encouragement. Thanks HITCHoN. 1992. Organic and Inorganic are also due to the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia Substrates for Melon (Cucumis melo) Cultivation. for granting, whilst in their employ, nine months In preparation. sabbatical leave to RMRH. STILI., S.M.• M.A. DIRR and JB. GARTNER. 1976. Phytotoxic Effects of Several Bark Extracts au REFERENCES Mung Bean and Cucumber Growth. lAmer.Soc. AARO', JR 1973. Bark: a Potentially Useful By Hort. Sci. 101(1): 34-37. product. JInsl. Wood Sci. 33: 22-27. VAUGHAN,J 1989. Comparing Ways of Going Hydro AARo~, JR. 1982. Conifer Bark: Its Properties and ponic. Horticultural Now 13 July: 13-15. Uses. Forestry Comission Record No 110. 22 pp. BR.-\GG, . C. and BJ. CHA~IBERS 1988. Interpretation and Advisory Applications of Compost Air-filled (Received 11 MaTch 1992)

220 PERTANIKA VOL. 15 NO.3. 1992