Effects of nitrogen fertilization on fruit quality during storage of spanish ‘piel de sapo’ melon

Abstract

The aim of the work is the evaluation of the effect of nitrogen fertilization on fruit quality during postharvest conservation at low temperatures. Melon cultivation was fulfilled at open air with a plastic mulch and drip irrigation (100% of crop evapotranspiration). Nitrogen fertilization was applied at 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1. Melon fruits were harvested at 48-50 d (days) after fruit set, and stored at 9±1 ºC and 85 % RH during 10, 20 and 30 d. After each period of conservation colour, firmness, soluble solids, vitamin C and total nitrogen contents from pulp tissue were analysed. The % fruit weight loss was determined too. No influence from the level of nitrogen fertilization on the quality parameters analysed has been detected. As expected, only total nitrogen content in fruit was affected by the different fertilization treatments. During conservation fruit firmness gradually diminished, % weight loss gradually augmented and at the end of storage vitamin C content decreased. The whole set of results showed that melon plant cultivation could be carried out with low levels of nitrogen fertilization without negatively affecting quality during postharvest, but a compromise must be found in order to avoid a negative effect on fruit production.