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SREEDHAR DEVARAKONDA*, NAGARAJU RACHAKUNTA AND CHANDRA SEKHAR
HRS, Anantharajupeta, Dr. Y.S.R.H.U, Railway Kodur, Kadapa Dt., A.P.
Worldwide, a significant increase in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb.] Matsum. & Nakai) growing areas has been registered in the last few years. Though it is a potential vegetable crop, there is not much standardized scientific cultivation technology available for improving the yield. Agro techniques like nutrition and spacing play an important role in commercial production, specially N rates and planting densities vary on a large scale, indicating that there is insufficient knowledge about their effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of N rate and planting density on growth and yield of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] grown on black polyethylene mulch. The field experiments with ‘Aaliya’ F1 hybrid (Bayer Crop Science) was planted during January, 2017. The treatments were factorial combinations of three paired row plant spacings (0.45, 0.60, and 0.75 m) and four N rates (75, 100, 125 and 150 kg•ha-1). Part of the N (35 kg•ha-1) was applied preplant and the remainder was fertigated. Vine length increased linearly as N rate increased from 75 to 150 kg•ha-1, and also with plant spacing increased from 0.45 m to 0.75 m. Total yields per ha or per plant and Average fruit weight did not increase with N rates above 100 kg•ha-1. Total yields per acre and number of fruits per plot were linearly decreased with an increase in plant spacing from 0.45 to 0.75 m. With increased plant spacing average fruit weight increased and fruit size distribution shifted to larger categories.
Polyetrylene mulch, Watermelon, Nitrogen