Abstract

The culture of watermelon is mostly responds to technological advancement. The fruit is analyzed in terms of its production and quality. Among the factors involved in its production, irrigation is very important; however it must be well managed. There are phases of the culture that requires greater or lesser amount of water for maximum productivity and high quality. In this context, the present research was conducted to evaluate the cultivation of watermelon under water deficit in the experimental area of semiarid Brazilian. The experiment was conducted at the National Department of Works Against Drought, Ayres of Souza, Ceará, Brazil. Growth variables were evaluated, such as the number of leaves, leaf area, length, and number of branches. The evaluations were conducted at 36, 42 and 49 days after transplanting (DAT). The data obtained showed that culture has water deficit tolerance, and if properly handled, using the right amount of irrigation water, there would be no damage to the culture.

Keywords: Citrullus lanatus, water stress, irrigation.