Influence of spacing on yield, quality and economics of watermelon

Abstract

An experiment entitled “Influence of spacing on yield, quality and economics of watermelon” was undertaken at Instructional farm department of vegetable science college of horticulture Dr. PDKV, Akola during summer season of 2018-2019 to study the influence of spacing on yield quality and economics of watermelon. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications and five treatments viz. T1 (0.45 × 2.0 m) T2 (0.60 m × 2.0 m), T3 (0.75 m × 2.0 m), T4 (0.90 m × 2.0 m) and T5 (1.0 m × 2.0 m). As regard to yield parameter T5 (1.0 m × 2.0 m) was found superior in respect of days required for edible maturity, number of fruits plant-1, average fruit weight and fruit yield kg plant-1. While yield kg plot-1 and yield ha-1 were found maximum in treatment T1 (0.45 × 2.0 m). In respect of quality parameters, treatment T5 (1.0 × 2.0 m) recorded maximum fruit diameter, fruit length, TSS 0Brix, reducing sugar, non-reducing and total sugar percent. Highest gross, net monetary returns and B:C ratio were obtained with treatment T1 (0.45 × 2.0 m). Therefore, treatment T1 (0.45 × 2.0 m) was found to be most remunerative considering B:C ratio.