Net melon cultivars productivity under different cultivation systems, during summer and winter

In order to access the effects of cultivation in soil, sand or a commercial substrate on the productivity of Bonus #2 cultivars, 'Don Carlos' and 'Hy Mark', two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal- SP, Brazil, 21° 15' 22 S, 48° 18'58 W, and altitude of 595 m, from November 1999 to April 2000 (summer), and from July to November 2000 (Winter). For cultivation in soil, chemical nutrients were added, and plants were irrigated with drip irrigation. Fertigation with recirculation of the nutrient solution was used on sand; slabs were used on commercial substrate with the fertigation with non circulating nutrient solution. Bonus #2 cultivar yielded the highest production of marketable fruit, but were later in production, while Hy Mark cultivar had early production but a lower number of fruit per plant. The winter planting yielded higher production of marketable fruit while summer plantings yielded lower number of fruit per plant, but with higher average weigh. The combination between cultivation systems and cultivars yielded higher fruit production in winter.