176 Effect of Plastic Rowcover on Watermelon Crop

Abstract

Citrullus vulgaris cv Rocio hybrid F1 was seeded 18 Jan. 1994 and transplanted 1 month later in loam-sandy soil at the experiment station of the Complexe Horticole, 16 km south of Agadir. Watermelon plants grown under perforated plastic rowcover with 800 holes per square meter were compared to the open-field plants. The experiment design used was a randomized block design with two treatments (rowcover and open field) and four repetitions. Rowcover was put at planting and removed 90 days later. Under the rowcover the minimal and maximal temperatures were higher than the ones of the open field by 0.9 to 2.4 and 3 to 6.8 °C, respectively. Soil temperatures at 10-cm depth measured at 7:00 am and 4:00 pm were higher under cover by 1.2 and 2.7 °C, respectively. Early yield of watermelon obtained under perforated plastic rowcover and in open field were 6.55 kg/plant (78.6 t/ha) and 2.45 kg/plant (29.4 t/ha), respectively.