Abstract
Muskmelons were grown under the same environmental conditions to determine levels of salt tolerance in different media. Plant height at harvest decreased with increasing sea water concentrations in sand and soil cultures. The relative plant dry weight and fruit fresh weight were greatest in nutrient solution culture, followed by soil culture and least in sand culture. The relative fruit fresh weights at 1, 000ppm Cl as compared to 0ppm Cl in sand, soil and nutrient solution cultures were 66.2, 70.5 and 91.1%, respectively. Osmotic potential of leaves and roots decreased, and Cl content in each plant part, and Na and Mg in leaves increased with increasing sea water concentrations in each medium. The relative Cl and Na content in leaves was highest in sand culture and lowest in nutrient solution culture. Cl and exchangeable Na in soil and sand, and EC of soil increased with increasing sea water concentrations. Anion and cation content, and EC of media were greater in soil culture than in sand culture.
