KERAGAAN PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL EMPAT VARIETAS HIBRIDA MELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.) PADA BEBERAPA FREKUENSI FERTIGASI NPK

Abstract

The public's increasing consumption of melons necessitates an enhancement in national
melon production. One approach to achieving this is through the application of technology,
focusing on using superior varieties and fertilization techniques utilizing the NPK fertigation
system. This study aims to evaluate the growth response and yield of several hybrid melon
cultivars to different frequencies of NPK fertigation. The experimental design used in this study
was a complete randomized block design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications. The
first factor was the hybrid melon variety, comprising four cultivars: Rock Melon Okasa F1,
Merlin F1, Jumbo F1, and Golden Eskis F1. The second factor was the frequency of NPK
compound fertigation application, consisting of four levels: control (60 g/plant applied at the
start of planting by broadcasting, representing the total dose with overall frequency), 5 times
(12 g/l, with an interval of 12 days), 10 times (6 g/l, with an interval of 6 days), and 15 times (4
g/l, with an interval of 4 days). The initial application was concurrent with the start of planting.
Each experimental unit consisted of 4 plants. The experiment results showed varying responses
among the four varieties to increased fertigation frequency in terms of the variables of male
flowering age and fruit sweetness level. The best male flowering age variable was exhibited by
the Golden Eskis cultivar with 15 applications, while the fruit sweetness level variable in the
Golden Eskis cultivar was best with 5 and 15 applications. The Jumbo F1 cultivar was the best
among the tested cultivars based on fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit firmness, flesh thickness,
and fruit circumference. Ten applications of NPK fertigation were the best treatment based on
fruit diameter and tended to increase the weight per fruit.

Key word: hybrid melon, fertigation frequency, NPK fertilizer