Effect of Substrates Properties on Growth of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) under Substrate Culture

Abstract

The study of physical and chemical properties of agricultural waste for improve as substrate appropriate for muskmelon (Cucumis meloL. cv. Greennet) soilless culture in greenhouse system between October and December which used drip irrigation for water and nutrient solution. The Completely Randomized Design (CRD) of 4 treatment 4 replication was design for the substrates those used in this study were comprise of rice husk charcoal, rice husk, coconut dust and filter cake. The result showed that rice husk charcoal as substrate could result to the high quality of Melon production such as fruit fresh weight, fruit diameter and total soluble solid (1,304.16 gram 19.36 centimeter and 15.00 %brix, respectively) which significantly difference among the treatment (P<0.01). Because of rice husk charcoal have physical properties of optimum substrate for melon production such as bulk density (Db), water containing capacity (WCC) and total porosity (E). And also chemical properties of rice husk charcoal showed that pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and Carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of before and after growing in significantly difference (P<0.01).