Abstract
The characteristics of nutrient uptake by musk melon were examined by two hydroponic cultural methods, water culture and KUNTAN culture. The rate of nitrogen uptake gradually rose before pollination then remarkably increased immediately after pollination. The increased rate of nitrogen uptake was observed for about 15 days then followed by a sudden decrease in the rate down to the levels before pollination. The water uptake showed almost the same fluctuation as nitrogen uptake, but the increase in the rate after pollination was more in nutrient uptake than in water uptake and following decrease was less in the former than in the latter. The uptake of NO3- and Ca2+relatively dominated in the earlier stages while K+ in the later stages.
From the results of these experiments, the cultural period of musk melon was divided into three growth stages, vegetative stage, fruit developing stage and fruit maturing stage.
