Yield Response of Watermelon to Planting Density, Planting Pattern, and Polyethylene Mulch

Sanders, Douglas C.; Cure, Jennifer D.; Schultheis, Jonathan R.

doi:10.21273/hortsci.34.7.1221

Cited by 37 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In subsequent studies, pollen production of these cultigens should be quantified. Motsenbocker and Arancibia (2002) and Sanders et al (1999) showed reducing in-row spacing between watermelon plants cause fruit size and number of fruit per vine to decline. However, these two research studies did not examine dedicated pollenizer cultigens.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Dittmar¹,

Monks²,

Schultheis³

2009

horts

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Triploid (seedless) watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nak.] pollen is nonviable; thus, diploid (pollenizer) watermelon cultigens are required to supply viable pollen for triploid watermelon fruit set. The objective of this research was to characterize maximum potential vegetative growth, staminate and pistillate flower production over time, and measure exterior and interior fruit characteristics of pollenizer cultigens. Sixteen commercially available and numbered line (hereafter collectively referred to as cultigens) pollenizer and two triploid cultigens were evaluated in 2005 and 2006 at Clayton, NC. Vegetative growth was measured using vine and internode length, and staminate and pistillate flower development was counted weekly. Fruit quality and quantity were determined by measuring individual fruit weights, soluble solids, and rind thickness. Based on vegetative growth, pollenizer cultigens were placed into two distinct groups.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Dittmar¹,

Monks²,

Schultheis³

2009

horts

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“…Furthermore, watermelon demand is switching into smaller individual melons to fit better today's smaller households. Several reports have shown that watermelon growth and yield increase in response to plastic mulch and rowcover, but the effect on fruit size distribution has been overlooked (Baker et al, 1998;Sanders et al, 1999;Soltani et al, 1995). We previously reported that increasing plant density of the triploid watermelon cultivars Crimson Jewel and Honey Heart results in a higher number of fruit per unit area, but primarily of small and extra-small melons (Motsenbocker and Arancibia, 2002).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Modification of the plant environment has been used to enhance plant growth and yield, and to extend the growing season of horticultural crops in cooler climates (Hall and Besemer, 1972;Wells and Loy, 1985). Plastic mulch and rowcover increase soil and air temperatures, offering the possibility for early production and higher yields of warm-season vegetable crops such as watermelon (Bhella, 1988;Brinen et al, 1979;Sanders et al, 1999). In addition, plastic mulch reduces water evaporation and controls weeds.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Spunbonded fabrics can also be used as floating cover without wire hoops for freeze control, but physical damage by abrasion on the plants has been reported and may be associated with yield reduction (Baker et al, 1998;Wells and Loy, 1985). Often, rowcover increases early and total watermelon yields, but the effect of rowcover on fruit size has been overlooked (Baker et al, 1998;Sanders et al, 1999;Soltani et al, 1995). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three plastic mulches in combination with spunbonded polyester rowcover on production and fruit quality of two spring-planted watermelon cultivars (a hybrid diploid and a seedless triploid).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Differential Watermelon Fruit Size Distribution in Response to Plastic Mulch and Spunbonded Polyester Rowcover

Arancibia¹,

Motsenbocker²

2008

hortte

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Plasticulture has been successfully used to enhance growth and yield of horticultural crops, and also for season extension in cooler climates. The effect of three plastic mulches (silver on black, photoselective thermal green, and black) in combination with spunbonded polyester rowcover (0.9 oz/yard2) on spring-planted watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production was investigated. Two red-fleshed cultivars [Sangria (seeded) and Crimson Jewel (triploid)] were used. Plastic mulches increased early and total marketable yield in comparison with bare ground for both cultivars, but net benefit increased in ‘Crimson Jewel’ only. In contrast, yield and net benefit were the same among plastic mulches. Rowcover increased soil and air temperature, with the effect being greatest at lower ambient temperatures. During a near-freeze event, air temperature under the rowcover was about 7.2 °F higher than without a rowcover. Rowcover increased early and total marketable yield, but fruit weight decreased in both cultivars. Yield distribution into three fruit size categories was inconsistent between the cultivars. In ‘Sangria’, the large fruit category had the highest yield proportion for all treatments. In contrast, the highest yield proportion of ‘Crimson Jewel’, with exception of mulch without rowcover, corresponded to small fruit. Rowcover increased gross income at wholesale prices, but net benefit was not different from without rowcover. Protection of high-value plants, such as triploid watermelon, against light freezes, however, may still justify the use of rowcover in early plantings.

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“…The planting density, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, lost time, shoot dry weight per plant, harvesting time, mar- Planting density is one of the most important factors affecting plant growth and yield (Maynard and Scott, 1998;Leskovar et al, 2000). In order to determine optimum planting density, various factors such as solar radiation, the growth system, and cultivar traits should be considered (Sanders et al, 1999;Cavero et al, 2001). Although quinoa and sowthistle were selected for our case study, the charts can be extended to various plants for estimating growth and harvest factors, which will be useful for designing closed-type plant production systems.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of planting-density growth harvest (PGH) charts for quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and sowthistle (Ixeris dentata Nakai) grown hydroponically in closed-type plant production systems

Cha

Jeon

Son

et al. 2016

Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol.

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When designing a plant production system, it is crucial to perform advanced estimation of growth and productivity in relation to cultivation factors. In this study, we developed Planting-density Growth Harvest (PGH) charts to facilitate the estimation of crop growth and harvest factors such as growth rate, relative growth rate, shoot fresh weight, harvesting time, marketable rate, and marketable yield for quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and sowthistle (Ixeris dentata Nakai). The plants were grown in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system in a closed-type plant factory under fluorescent lamps with three-band radiation under a light intensity of 140 μmol·m -2 ·s -1, with a 12-h/12-h (day/night) photoperiod. We analyzed the growth and yield of quinoa and sowthistle grown in nutrient solution at EC 2.0 dS·m -1 under four planting densities: 15 cm between rows with a within-row distance of 15 × 10 cm (67 plants/m 2 ), 15 × 15 cm (44 plants/m 2 ), 15 × 20 cm (33 plants/m 2 ), and 15 × 25 cm (27 plants/m 2 ). Crop growth rate, relative growth rate, and lost time were closely correlated with planting density. We constructed PGH charts based on the growth data and existing models. Using these charts, growth factors could easily be determined, including growth rate, relative growth rate, and lost time, as well as harvest factors such as shoot fresh weight, marketable yield per area, and harvesting time, based on at least two parameters, for instance, planting density and shoot fresh weight.

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Yield Response of Watermelon to Planting Density, Planting Pattern, and Polyethylene Mulch

Cited by 37 publications

References 8 publications

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Differential Watermelon Fruit Size Distribution in Response to Plastic Mulch and Spunbonded Polyester Rowcover

Development of planting-density growth harvest (PGH) charts for quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and sowthistle (Ixeris dentata Nakai) grown hydroponically in closed-type plant production systems

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