Abstract
'Athena' muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) was grown in 1999 in Gainesville, Fla., on polyethylenemulched raised beds with drip irrigation to evaluate effects of K source and method of K application on fruit yield. The soil was low in Mehlich-1 K and 160 lbs per acre (4-ft bed centers) K were applied for the season from KCI, K2SO4, or KNO3. The K was applied either 100% preplant incorporated in the bed or in 12 equal weekly injections through the drip irrigation system. N was supplied at 190 lbs per acre from NH4NO3 (and KNO3), with a combination of incorporated and injected N. All muskmelons received Mg and S from MgSO4. Early yield (first harvest) was not affected by K source. Total-season (five harvests) yield averaged 470 cwt per acre (23.5 tons per acre) and was not affected by K source. Early yield was not affected by K application method, but total-season fruit production was greater with fertigation than with preplant incorporation of K.
