Effects of Organic Materials on Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Honeydew Melon

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and chicken manure compost (ChMC) on growth, yield, and fruit quality of honeydew melon and to determine the most suitable rate of SMS for honeydew melon production. Honeydew melon seedlings grown in four different rates of SMS were planted in the net house with two different organic material rates (M1, M2). The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design. The results showed that increasing of organic materials in the net house increased growth, yield, and quality of honeydew melon, due to enhancing of pH, organic matter (OM,) and the nutrient concentrations in the soil. However, growing media with 40 % SMS + 60 % ChMC in the nursery period and the rate of 10 tons SMS + 10 tons ChMC ha−1 in the net house period gave the best yield and fruit quality of honeydew melon.