Water stress imposed on muskmelon (Cucumis Melo L.) with subsurface and surface drip irrigation systems under semi-arid climatic conditions

In 2005 and 2006, a study was conducted to determine the effect of subsurface and surface drip irrigation systems and to determine optimum irrigation water using six different irrigation levels imposed on muskmelon (Cucumis Melo L. cv. Ananas F1) under semi-arid climatic conditions. Irrigation treatments received 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of class A pan evaporation rates. In 2005, average yield from subsurface and surface drip irrigation systems ranged from 16.2 (I0) to 31.1 (I75) t ha−1 and from 16.2 (I0) to 43.8 (I75) t ha−1, respectively. While in 2006, fruit yields for the same systems ranged from 8.2 (I0) to 40.4 (I75) t ha−1 and from 8.2 (I0) to 38.9 (I100) t ha−1. Regression analysis of the yield data indicated no significant (P > 0.05) difference between years and irrigation systems. The highest muskmelon yields from subsurface and surface drip irrigation systems were obtained at 83 and 92% of class A pan. Bigger fruits were obtained with optimum irrigation amounts for both of the irrigation systems. However, there was no clear indication of irrigation water amounts on total soluble solid and flesh thickness of muskmelon fruits.