Growing Better Melons

Growing Better Melons

George Clough

Oregon State University

Hermiston Agricultural Research &

Extension Cente

r

Growing Better Melons

w/polyethylene mulch, drip irrigation

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Growing Better Melons:

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Watermelon Transplant Size:

Cell Size Leaf Area Weight

51 (1f”) 7.97 0.66

73 (1

!

”) 6.36 0.45

96 (1d”) 4.56 0.31

135 (1c”) 3.12 0.20

Watermelon Transplant Size:

Watermelon Transplant Size:

Yield (t/acre)

Cell Size Early Total

51

18.5

42.3

73 18.9 39.8

96 21.9 40.1

Watermelon Transplant Depth:

-

"soil line“ vs cotyledon

- 3 years

deep-setting tended to increase early yield

deep-set plants appeared more vigorous

depth did not influence total yield

Watermelon Transplant Age:

Watermelon Transplant Age:

- 2 locations

age of transplant did not affect early or

total yield or fruit size

Vavrina

, et al., U of Fla.

- 3 cell sizes (50, 73, 135 cell)

- 3 years

neither age of transplant nor cell-size

affected early or total yield or fruit size

Growing Better Melons:

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Y ield tons/a

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Clough, OSU

1998 Seedless Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs) Carousel 37.4 10.4 15.0 Crimson Jewel 32.4 11.2 14.1 Honey Heart 28.7 10.5 12.8 King of Hearts 27.4 11.1 13.2 Nova 35.0 10.3 12.4 Palomar 29.0 10.5 13.0 Summer Sweet 2532 41.5 10.0 15.3 Summer Sweet 3521Y 30.0 10.6 10.6

1998 Seedless Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs) Summer Sweet 5032 26.9 10.4 15.4 Summer Sweet 5544 29.7 11.2 14.6 SWX0037 37.2 10.7 18.4 SWX3022 25.8 11.3 16.6 SWX3053 28.3 10.7 13.1 SWX4016 38.6 10.5 17.6 Tri-X 626 33.7 10.8 13.5 Clough, OSU

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Y ield tons/a

2008 Watermelon Yield

7/23/2008 _*Primed

2008 Seedless Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs) 7167 8.6 8.5 12.6 7187 8.7 8.4 12.7 9601 HQ _{9.7 9.3 12.2} 9651 HQ _{5.8 8.8 11.5} Crunchy Red F1 9.8 8.2 13.2 Melody 6.1 8.6 11.4 Super Crisp 32 7.9 8.7 13.2 Sweet Delight _{6.0 8.8 12.8} Tri-X 212 _{10.4 8.5 13.7} Tri-X 313 8.8 8.3 13.7

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Y ield tons/a

2009 Watermelon Yield

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*Primed

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Y ield tons/a

2009 Total Yield

2009 Seedless Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs) 7167 32.2 9.9 15.8 7187 22.7 10.2 14.3 9601 HQ 33.1 10.2 14.1 9651 HQ 25.6 10.1 13.5 Crunchy Red F1 27.0 9.4 14.2 Melody 25.8 9.8 13.6 Super Crisp 32 25.1 10.4 14.2 Sweet Delight 26.0 10.5 15.3 Tri-X 212 23.1 9.7 13.4 Tri-X 313 25.8 9.8 14.3

Growing Better Melons:

Seedless Mini-Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs)

Fruit/

Acre

5104 43.7 11.3 10.4 4180 5109 30.3 10.8 7.6 3930 5116 35.6 11.3 8.3 4260 Extazy 33.4 10.9 8.5 3960 Liliput 37.6 11.3 10.3 3640 MiniTriploid 2132 40.1 10.9 11.5 3490 MiniTriploid 2308 30.4 11.0 10.4 2930 MiniTriploid 2168 34.8 11.8 12.8 2690 Petit Perfection* 30.0 11.9 6.3 4710 RWT 8149 32.0 11.5 6.9 4620

Organic Seedless Mini-Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs)

Fruit/

Acre

Bibo 14.6 11.9 3.0 9750 Little Deuce Coupe 20.5 11.7 4.1 9960 Mini Yellow 25.3 10.5 6.2 8330 Petit Perfection 24.0 10.9 4.2 11220 Poquito 31.8 10.1 7.2 8710 Precious Petit 20.1 10.9 3.3 11980 RWT 8189 16.1 12.0 3.4 9365 Valdoria 24.7 9.9 5.1 9860 Vanessa 24.2 9.9 5.3 9040

Drip irrigation, black polyethylene mulch, California

Seedless Personal Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit Wt

(lbs)

Fruit/

Acre

Bibo 38.5 14.0 6.6 11700 Petit Perfection 43.4 13.0 8.0 10890 Precious Petit 40.9 10.0 7.4 11980 RWT 8149 49.3 14.0 7.3 13470

Drip irrigation, black polyethylene mulch, conventional, Indiana

Seedless Mini-Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Fruit

Shape

Xite 33.4 11.6 1.13 Mohican 26.3 11.6 1.10 Petite Perfection 30.3 12.0 1.05

Average 4 locations, 5 in-row spacings

Seedless Mini-Watermelon

Production

In-row

Spacing

Plants

1000/acre

Fruit Yield

Ton/acre 1000/acre 9 6.5 31.6 11.0 12 4.8 32.8 11.0 15 3.9 29.7 10.3 18 3.2 28.6 9.7 21 2.8 27.4 9.0

Average of 4 locations, 3 cultivars

Seedless Mini-Watermelon Production

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Soluble

Solids

(%)

Hollow

Heart

Colored

Seed

Betsy 28.9 11.8 0.2 1.4 Petit Treat 24.6 12.6 4.1 0.7 Valdoria 30.0 11.8 0.3 2.4 Vanessa 32.0 11.6 0.7 0.6

Average 6 in-row spacings

Seedless Mini-Watermelon

Production

In-row

Spacing

Plants

1000/acre

Fruit Yield

Ton/acre 1000/acre 6 12.4 36.8 14.0 9 8.3 30.0 11.0 12 6.2 29.0 10.1 18 4.1 29.2 9.0 24 3.1 28.7 8.7 30 2.5 26.0 7.2 Average of 4 cultivars Walters, 2009

Seedless Mini-Watermelon

Production

In-row

Spacing

Costs

($/acre)

Net Revenue

Local Wholesale 6 10,892 $28,310 $4,790 9 9,008 $20,260 $2,700 12 8,240 $18,490 $2,450 18 7,568 $15,060 $1,480 24 7,182 $14,490 $1,480 30 6,778 $ 7,121 -$1,219 Average of 4 cultivars Walters, 2009

Growing Better Melons:

Nutrient Availability & Effectiveness:

Fixation - phosphorus

Leaching - NO

₃

-N, K, B

Volatilization - urea"NH

₃

#

Competition - soluble salts

pH - optimum 6 - 6.5:

Ca, P, Mg deficient < 6

Fe, P deficient > 7

Requirements:

Preplant soil test

-

quick, inexpensive

- very general, field variability

- "calibrated" to soil type

Application Rate:

Readily available

- production guides

- usually for maximum yields

- adjust for expected yield

Fruit removal:

w / 40 ton / acre yield

(80000 lb) (7.5% DM) (3% N) = 180

lb N

/ acre

(80000 lb) (7.5% DM) (0.5% P) = 30

lb P

/ acre

=

68

lb P

₂

O

₅

/ acre

(80000 lb) (7.5% DM) (2.5% K) =

150 lb K

/ acre

Requirements:

Tissue analysis

- more expensive

- slow turn-around time

- indicates plant nutrient status

- sampling more difficult

Plant sap quick-tests

- very quick

- accurate

Plant tissue analysis at early bloom stage for

watermelon.

(

4.,.E&( F( G( H( 9,( I/( 4( Fe Mn Zn B Cu Mo G02(%0-.(JKL( G,2.&(#02(7$33$"-(J##7L( Deficient <2.5 0.25 2.7 1.0 0.25 0.2 30 20 20 20 5 0.3 Adequate 2.5-_3.5 0.25-_0.50 2.7-_3.5 1.0-_2.0 0.25-_0.50 0.2-_0.4 30-1₀₀ 20-1₀₀ 20-₄₀ 20-₄₀ 5-1₀ 0.3-_0.5 High >3.5 0.5 3.5 2.0 0.5 0.4 100 100 40 40 10 0.5 Maynard, U Fla

Sufficiency ranges for petiole sap testing

for watermelon.

Crop development

stage

Fresh petiole sap

concentration (ppm)

NO₃-N K Vines 6” long 1200-1500 4000-500 0 Fruits 2” long 1000-1200 4000-500 0 Fruits one-half mature 800-1000 3500-400

0 At first harvest 600-800 3000-350

0

Nutrition X Irrigation

Movement, redistribution and

accumulation of soluble nutrients are

influenced by irrigation application.

Nutrients move w/ wetting front as

water moves through soil.

Application w/Drip:

Broadcast (in bed) and Incorporate:

- 25-40% of N & K and 100% of P

and micronutrients.

Fertigate:

Application w/Drip:

Fertigation:

- apply nutrients in 1

st

_{part of irrigation}

cycle

- chemigate near end of cycle to prevent

algae growth, precipitation etc.

Application w/Drip:

Foliar

- application of nutrients directly to the

leaves.

- large amounts of nutrients cannot be

applied w/o injury to plant.

- may be very effective with micronutrients,

especially if soil pH is alkaline.

Nutrient Sources:

Nitrogen

- at least 50% as N0

₃

-N in cool or

fumigated soils.

NH

₄

N0

₃

Ca(NO

₃

)

₂

KNO

₃

Nutrient Sources:

Phosphorus

- ordinary super phosphate (OSP) and

triple super phosphate (TSP) are

good P sources (more S and Ca w/

OSP).

- diammonium phosphate (DAP) may

precipitate micronutrients.

Nutrient Sources:

Potassium

-

KNO

₃

- K

₂

SO

₄

- KCl (high salt index)

- K

₂

SO

₄

!

2MgSO

₄

Growing Better Melons:

Soil Amendments:

Compost

Advantages:

Increase OM, WHC, CEC

Provide nutrients

Disadvantages:

Specialized equipment

Cost

Salts

2002 Columbia Basin trials

End-of-season Soil

Compost OM (%) K(ppm)

0 t/a 1.0 c 165 b

5 t/a 1.3 b 187a

10 t/a 1.4a 191a

2002 Columbia Basin trials

Wireworm “control”

Compost Plant Loss (%)

0 t/a 14.6a

5 t/a 16.3a

10 t/a 2.4 b

Growing Better Melons:

Advantages:

Eliminate or reduce soil pests

(

disease, insects, weeds

)

Disadvantages:

Specialized equipment

Cost

Safety

Timeliness

Fumigants:

Metam sodium

Vapam, Sectagon, Soil Prep

Telone

Telone II, Telone EC

Chloropicrin

Chlor-o-pic, Larvacide

Combinations

Telone C17, Telone C35, Inline

Dimethyl disulfide (DDS)

Paladin, Paladin EC

2002 Columbia Basin Fumigation trials

Verticillium wilt

(Verticillium dahliae)

Fumigant Plant Loss (%)

Telone C35 1.0 b

Inline 0.7 b

None 3.2a

2002 Columbia Basin Fumigation trials

Wireworm

(Limonius canus, L. californicus)

Fumigant Plant Loss (%)

Telone C35 0.3 b

Inline 4.8 b

None 26.6a

Implementation of Risk Mitigation

Measures for Soil Fumigant Pesticides

Buffer zones (2011):

-

application rate

- field size

- application equipment and methods

- emission-control measures (tarps)

Telone

: no buffer required

others: minimum 30’

Miscellaneous

Windbreaks

Wheat, rye

Pollination

1 hive / acre

50-60,000 bees / hive

500-750’ between hives

Seedless

1:3 or 1:4 diploid:triploid

Rogers SP-4 Super Pollenizer

Other cultivars available:

Companion Seminis Jenny Nunhems Minipool Hazera

Pinnacle Southwestern SP-1, 2, 4 Syngenta

Seedless Watermelon Pollenizers

Cultivar

Yield

(ton/acre)

Hollow

Heart

Companion 22.3c 9.0 Jenny 27.6ab 10.8 Mickylee _{26.6abc 8.4} Patron _{28.4ab 11.6} Pinnacle 23.8bc 5.8 Sidekick 29.1a 10.5 SP-1 27.6ab 8.3 Average of 4 locations Freeman et al., 2007

M

M(

Row Covers:

- increase soil and air temperatures

- frost protection

- insect exclusion

- wind protection

Results:

- increased earliness

- higher early yield

- higher total yield

- improved quality

Row Cover Materials:

- extruded polypropylene

(Agronet)

- spunbonded polypropylene

(Agryl, Gromax, Kimberly Farms, Lutrasil)

- spunbonded polyester

(Reemay)

- perforated polyethylene

Costs:

6' W Floating

$815/acre

35' W Floating

$1475/acre

6' W Perforated Clear

$240/acre

Labor:

construction - 12 hrs

venting - 30 hrs

removal - 27 hrs

based on single-sheet, continuous tunnels

6' bed centers, Fresno, Cal.

Management:

- pest control

weeds

insects

- venting

>85° F!flower drop

- wind

edges anchored