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Effects of Led Supplementary Lighting and NPK Fertilization on Fruit Quality of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Grown in Plastic House
Author(s)
Glahan, Somchai
Date Issued
June 1, 2020
Type
Article
Abstract
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a high-value fruit in Thailand, usually grown in plastic houses where light could become a major limiting growth factor. This study used melon cultivar '#120' (orange flesh) grown in a plastic house under natural daylight (NDL, control) and with supplementary lighting using light emitting diodes (LEDs) of a combination of red 630 nm, red 660 nm, blue 450 nm, blue 460 nm, white 14000 K, UV 410 nm and IR 730 nm (LED1) or a combination of red 630 nm, red 660 nm, blue 450 nm and blue 460 nm (LED2) applied for 12 h from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. These lighting treatments were combined with NPK fertilization using complete fertilizer 15-15-15 (N-P2O5-K2O) at 5 g, 7 g (recommended rate) or 9 g per plant. Results showed that LED2 combined with 9 g 15-15-15 was the most effective in increasing plant height, chlorophyll content (SPAD index), fruit size and mass, and peel and flesh thickness. The fruit also developed the desired lighter color (higher L∗ and lower a∗ coordinates) and were the firmest and sweetest (highest soluble solids content and lowest titratable acidity) among all treatments.
Citation
Journal of Horticultural Research, 28(1), 111-122, 2020