Investigating the effect of different culture media on the amount of nutrients in Cucumis melo var. dudaim (Dastanbo)

Today, the use of organic and mineral substances is an important step in preserving the environment and is considered as one of the most effective management methods to maintain the quality of soil and the nutritional value of products at an optimal level. In the present study, the effect of 18 different culture media, including cocopeat + perlite (50-50, 75-25, and 25-75 %v/v), peat moss + perlite (50-50, 25-75, and 75-25 %v/v), vermicompost + perlite (50-50, 25-75, and 75-25  %v/v), compost+perlite (50-50, 75-25, and 25-75 %v/v), cocopeat 100% v/v, vermicompost 100% v/v, peatmass 100% v/v, perlite 100% v/v, compost 100% v/v and cocopeat + vermicompost + compost + peat mass + perlite (20-20-20-20-20 %v/v) on the concentration of nutrients of Cucumis melo var. dudaim (Dastanbo) were investigated. The pot experiment was conducted in a factorial, complete randomized block design with three replications. The results showed the highest levels of phosphorous and potassium in the fruits were related to the same ratio of all beds treatment, and 100% of vermicompost. The highest level of magnesium in the fruits was observed in 100% vermicompost and 100% compost. Additionally, the highest amounts of copper, zinc, and iron were obtained in the fruits treated with 100% compost. The highest titratable acidity (TA) and total soluble solid (TSS)/TA were under treatments of cocopeat 50% + perlite 50% and peat moss 100%, respectively. Our results suggest that two organic substrates, compost and vermicompost (100% v/v), had the greatest effect in increasing the concentration of nutrients in dudaim.