Atonik

Melons

Spain 2003

Trial localisation

• This trial has been conducted in Ciudad Real area

• It has been performed by SITA del Castilla de la Mancha - CMA « el Chaparillo » in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture of the generalidad.

• Study monitor: Cabello M.J., Ribas F., Castellanos M.T., Figueiró N.

Experimental device

• Split plot with 4 replications– Factor 1: Effect of Atonik– Factor 2: Variety

• 3 applications of Atonik– Before blooming– Fruit setting– Fruit growing

• Varieties:– Conde– Montijo – Sancho– Reke– Ruidera– SF/15– Gredos– Ruiseñor

• We ca note that year conditions were perfect for melon crop (could temperature), fertilization and irrigation has been perfectly managed by these

specialists.

Assesments• Quantitative effects

– Yield– Nb. of fruits – Size of the fruits– Percentage of commercial fruits

Melon development cycles

10 20 40 50 70 80 100 110 130 1400 30 60 90 120 150

m ayo jun io ju lio agosto septiem bre

D D P

D ías

Períodos

S ancho, R eke, C onde, M ontijo

Plantación Floración m asculina Floración fem enina Cuajado de frutos Recolección

Com ienzo del desarrollo vegetativo Fecundación Crecim iento del fruto Recolección

0

G redos, R uiseñor

R uidera

0

0

23 33 41 71 77 90 97 104 113

12 19 26 48 55 61 68 75 82 91

19 26 33 68 75 82 91

0 15 22 31 64 71 78 87

SF/15

83

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

Tª

med

ia (

ºC)

Effect on Yield

Total Yield obtained during the first harvest on the Piel de sapo varieties

0100020003000400050006000700080009000

10000

Si No

Atonik

Kg/h

a

A

B

Conde, Montijo, Sancho y Reke

Total yield obtained on 7 harvests .

50000

55000

60000

65000

70000

Si No Si No

Sancho Montijo

Kg/h

aEffect on Yield

Effect on Yield

Yield cumulated on 6 harvest-Reke

7054,6

14109,2

15487,4

21411,6

26068,7

31113,1

10399,4

20798,8

24188,1

28715,5

34011,9

38754,7

1

2

3

4

5

6

Sin Atonik Con Atonik

Effect on the number of commercial fruits

Percentage of no saled fruits due to "Rajado"SANCHO

02468

10121416

Con Atonik Sin Atonik

A

B

Conclusion

• That is clear that Atonik increase precocity on Melon, especially for long cycle varieties.

• Increase of yield is mainly due to an increase of fruit number

• On varieties with “rajado” problems, Atonik allows to decrease losses due to this phenomena.

• In order to preserve the strong effect of Atonik observed during the 2 first harvest, it could be good to make 1 or 2 other treatments after the 2dn and the 4th harvest.