Good Agriculture Practices of Watermelon
Good Agriculture Practices of Watermelon crop
Watermelon is an important cucurbitaceous vegetable/Fruit in India. It is an excellent desert fruit and its juice contains 92% water along with proteins, minerals and carbohydrates. Watermelons are mainly cultivated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Soil and Climate:
A well-drained soil of loamy type is preferred for Watermelon. The soil should not crack in summer and should not be waterlogged in the rainy season. It is important that soil should be fertile and rich in organic matter. The most suitable pH range is between 6.0 and 7.0.
Watermelon is warm season crop and do not withstand even light frost and strong winds. Seed does not germinate below 11oC, optimum germination occurs at 18oC and germination increases with rise in temperature till 30oC. Watermelon grow best at a temperature range of 18-24oC. Melons prefer tropical climate with high temperature during fruit development with day temperature of 35-40oC. Cool nights and warm days give better quality fruits in melons.
Varieties
Aishwarya Watermelon , Anmol Yellow Watermelon, Apoorva Watermelon , Arun Watermelon, Dragon King Water Melon , Jaguar Watermelon F1 and etc
Find the varieties on below link:
https://www.bighaat.com/collections/fruits/fruit-seeds+product_water-melon
Agronomic practices
Sowing Times:
- Melons are grown only when the weather is warm and dry during fruit development, all through year can be planned with above growing conditions.
- For rainy season, grow only those Watermelons which can tolerate rains.
- In southern and central India, can be grown throughout the year.
Methods of planting:
Mostly in Watermelon, in situ method of sowing is followed.
- Furrow method:
Furrows are made at 1 to 1.5 m and sowing is usually done on the top of the sides of furrows and the vines are allowed to trail on the ground especially in summer season.
- Bed method:
In some regions, bed system is in fashion where the seeds are sown on the periphery of beds. The width of the bed is almost double to the row to row spacing.
- Hill method or raised beds or raised point:
The hills are spaced at a distance of 0.5- 0.75m and 2-3 seeds are sown per hill, after germination only one or two plants per hill are retained. This method facilitates proper drainage especially in heavy rainfall regions.
- Pit Method:
Generally, it is followed in southern India. The pit is lower than the normal bed surface.
Seed treatment, Nursery management and Transplanting:
Watermelon crop is usually propagated through seeds but since seeds are big nursery raising may not be required. Seed treatment with some protective agents may still help better germination, good survivability and also better yields. For chemical treatment seeds can be soaked in Ridomet 0.5 gm/L + Plantomycin 0.5 gm/L + Humic Acid[ V-Hume] 5 mL/L [mixture before sowing].
https://www.bighaat.com/products/gibrax-sp186-growth-regulator + https://www.bighaat.com/products/plantomycin-bactericide-aries-agro + https://www.bighaat.com/products/v-hume-plant-nutrient
This mixture can be used to treat roots of saplings before transplanting. Since saplings or early germinated plants are more vulnerable to pests and diseases, the nursery growing of saplings have become must. The saplings can be procured from nurseries where quality saplings or seedlings are raised.
Seedlings are grown before, 15 -20 days old saplings are transplanted in the main field after sowing. However healthy quality seedlings can be procured from scientifically maintained nurseries.
Manures and fertilizers:
Prepare the main field by ploughing and harrowing and add 8 to 10 tonnes per acre Farmyard manure or compost is applied at the time of field preparation. Apply well rotten farm yard manure / compost @ 8 -10 t/acre, 200 -250 kg Bio organic Manure + 10 kg Humic acids granules [Ecohume Gr] https://www.bighaat.com/products/ecohume-gr-bioactive-humic-substances-1-5-granules
Recommended dose of Fertilizer Application: NPK – 50:40:40 kg/ per acre following combinations may be used.
Major Nutrients
|
Combination 1 |
kg |
|
Urea (46 % N) |
74.7 |
|
DAP (18 % N; 46 % P2O5) |
87.0 |
|
MOP (60 % K2O) |
66.7 |
|
Combination 2 |
kg |
|
10:26:26' |
153.8 |
|
Urea (46 % N) |
75.3 |
|
Combination 3 |
kg |
|
20:20:00' |
200.0 |
|
Urea (46 % N) |
21.7 |
|
MOP (60 % K2O) |
66.7 |
Secondary Nutrients [ Soil Conditioners] 50 kg/acre[ products containing Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur nutrients]
Micronutrients [Micronutrient Mixtures] 5- 10 kg per acre Aries multi micronutrient fertilizer
https://www.bighaat.com/products/aries-agromin-micro-nutrient-fertilizer
Full dose of farmyard manure, phosphorus and half of potassium and N should be applied at the time of sowing. Remaining part of N should be top dressed in two equal parts after one month and at flowering stage while remaining half of K is applied when good growth takes place. Fertigation of nutrients can also be provided to supplement the required nutrients. Fertigation schedule is provided at the end.
Stage IV Irrigaton:
Irrigation: In spring-summer crop, frequency of irrigation is very important, while in rainy season crop, well distributed rainfall between July to September reduces the frequency of irrigations. Ridges or hills or beds are to be irrigated a day or two prior to sowing of seeds and then light irrigation is to be given 4 or 5 days after sowing. Flooding of hills is to be avoided and crust formation of the top soil should be prevented. Irrigation once in 5 or 6 days is necessary depending upon soil, location, temperature etc. Irrigation water should not wet the vines or vegetative parts, especially when flowering, fruit set and fruit developments are in progress. Wetting will promote diseases and rotting of fruits, so it is essential to keep beds or inter row spaces dry as far as possible so that developing fruits are not damaged.
Stage V Plant protection: Foliar application (Sprays)
1st Spray – 3 weeks after sowing
Carbendazim [Bengard] 2 g/L OR Metalaxyl + Mancozeb [Ridomil gold] – 2 g/litre + Acephate (Hunk- 1 gm/L) + V-Zyme 2 mL/L + Econeem plus 1%- 1 mL/L
https://www.bighaat.com/products/bengard-fungicide OR https://www.bighaat.com/products/ridomill-gold-fungicide + https://www.bighaat.com/search?type=product&q=*Hunk* +
https://www.bighaat.com/products/econeem-plus-azadirachtin-10000-ppm-biopesticide
2nd Spray – 5 weeks after sowing
Copper Oxy Chloride [Cuprina or Blitox] 2 g/litre + Chloropyriphos [Predator] 2 ml/litre + Multimax [Micronutrient mixture] – 3 gm/L + Wetting agent [Raccold Spraywell] 1 mL/litre.
https://www.bighaat.com/products/cuprina-fungicide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/predator-insecticide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/multimax-nutrient + https://www.bighaat.com/products/dow-spraywell-surfactant-adjuvant
3rd Spray – 7 weeks after sowing
Zineb 68% + Hexaconazol 4% WP [Avtar] 2 g/litre – 2 g/ L + Econeem plus 1%- 1 mL/L +Triazhophos [Trifos] 2 mL/L + Seaweed extract[ Biovita] 2 mL/L
https://www.bighaat.com/products/indofil-avtar-fungicide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/econeem-plus-azadirachtin-10000-ppm-biopesticide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/biovita-bio-fertilizer
4th Spray – 9 weeks after sowing
Imidachloprid [Confidor] 0.5 mL/L + Econeem plus 1%- 1 mL/L + Ahaar 2 mL/l+ Carbendazim + Mancozeb [Saaf] 2 gm/L
https://www.bighaat.com/products/confidor + https://www.bighaat.com/products/econeem-plus-azadirachtin-10000-ppm-biopesticide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/ahaar-plant-nutrient + https://www.bighaat.com/products/upl-saaf-fungicide
5th Spray – 11th week after sowing
Thiomethaxom [Anant or Maxima] 0.5 g/litre + Chlorothalonil [Kavach] 2 gm/L + Micronutrient mixture [Nutribulid Mix] -1g/L + Econeem plus 1%- 1 mL/L
https://www.bighaat.com/products/anant-insecticide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/kavach-fungicide + https://www.bighaat.com/products/dow-nutribuild-mix-edta-12-chelate-250-gms https://www.bighaat.com/products/econeem-plus-azadirachtin-10000-ppm-biopesticide
Stage VI Weed management:
Apply paraquat dichloride [PARALAC or GRAMOXONE] 6 gm/L or Glyphosate [Round up] 12-15 mL / L. and spray on post growth of weeds at 2 weeks before sowing of Watermelon. Hand weeding is the best to manage weeds in grown up crop no selective herbicides are available.
https://www.bighaat.com/products/gramoxone-herbicide or https://www.bighaat.com/products/roundup-herbicide
Thinning of plants should be done 10-15 days after sowing retaining not more than 2 healthy seedlings per hill. The beds or ridges are required to be kept weed free in the early stages before vine growth start. Weeding and earthing up are done at the time of top dressing of split application of nitrogenous fertilizers.
Fertigation schedule for Watermelon per acre
|
Sl No. |
DAY after Sowing or Transplanting |
Water Soluble Fertilisers per acre of plot |
|
1 |
05-10 days |
12 :61 :00 3.0 kg + V-Hume 2 L |
|
2 |
12-17 days |
12 :61 :00 3.0 kg + Nutribuild 250 grams |
|
3 |
19-24 days |
00:52:34 4.0 kg + Boron 20 250 gms |
|
4 |
26-32 days |
13 :00 :45 4.0 kg + Gibrax Phytozyme 2 Litre |
|
5 |
33-39 days |
00:52:34 4.0 kg + Magnesium Sulphate 5 kg |
|
6 |
40-46 days |
13 :00 :45 4.0 kg |
|
7 |
47-53 days |
Calcium Nitrate 6.0 kg |
|
8 |
54-60days |
Sulphur Liquid 2 L |
|
9 |
61-67 days |
00:52:34 - 4.0 kg + Boron 20 250 gms |
|
10 |
68-74 days |
Calcium Nitrate 6.0 kg + Chelamin gold 350 gm |
|
11 |
75-80 days |
13 :00 :45 8 kg + Gibrax Phytozyme 2 Liter |
|
12 |
82-87 days |
00 : 00: 50 – 4kgs + Ammonium Sulphate 3 kg |
K SANJEEVA REDDY,
Senior Agronomist, BigHaat
Disclaimer: The performance of the product(s) is subject to usage as per manufacturer guidelines. Read enclosed leaflet of the product(s) carefully before use. The use of this product(s) /information is at the discretion of user.
Usefull schedule
Namaste, thanks for your contact, you can refer this link https://kisanvedika.bighaat.com/crop/field-preparation-for-watermelon/ for planting watermelon
Thanks
Otp not showing sir
Need form of planting water melon
Leave a comment